Contrasting Unemployment Trends: Rates Soar in Kansas But Decrease in Missouri

Unemployment rates on the rise in Kansas, decreasing in Missouri

Kansas City: Contrary to the current trend, unemployment rates in Kansas are on a steady rise, while they are decreasing in Missouri, a recent report reveals. The report, released by a popular personal finance website on Thursday, April 4, places Kansas in the 9th spot nationally for the worst unemployment scenario.

An Increase in Kansas

Based on comparisons from all 50 states and Washington D.C., the report takes into consideration changes in unemployment claims for several benchmark weeks. In addition, the number of claims per 100,000 residents in the workforce was also considered. The report found that Kansas has witnessed the 9th highest increase in claims since the previous week.

As per the report, the state ranked 30th for claims per 100,000 people employed, with claims in the week of March 25 being 32% higher than the week before and 39% higher than the same time of the previous year. The week saw 82 claims per 100,000 Kansans.

Decrease in Missouri

On the contrary, the state of Missouri found itself on the opposite end of the spectrum. The report shows it ranked 48th for increased claims filed during the previous week. Additionally, the state stands at the 22nd spot in terms of claims per 100,000 residents in the workforce. Unemployment claims during the week of March 25th were 45% lower than the preceding week and 4.5% lower than the same period last year. The claims stood at 96 per 100,000 Missourians.

State-wise Analysis

The report has also delved into broader state-wise unemployment claim data. The states that reported the largest unemployment increases include Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin. On the contrary, states with the fewest new unemployment claims comprise New Hampshire, Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, and Louisiana.

This spike in unemployment claims in Kansas stands in stark contrast to the national trend, and it remains critical for central and state governance to deploy mechanisms to reverse this trend. In contrast, Missouri’s experience underscores the importance of state and local strategies in implementing effective unemployment reduction programs.