TOPEKA – While the statewide unemployment rate remained relatively flat, the jobless rate in Atchison County fell from August to September, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.

Atchison County jobless numbers fell from 5.8 percent in August to 5.2 percent in September. Leavenworth County saw a drop from 5.3 to 5 percent and Doniphan County saw the jobless rate fall from 5 to 4.5%.

Wallace County had the state’s lowest, posting a 1.8 percent unemployment rate. (Click the map for a closer look)

The state’s September seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, down from 4.9 percent in August and down from 5.3 percent in September 2013. County rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Kansas gained 10,700 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs, an increase of 1 percent since last year, and 9,200 nonfarm jobs, a 0.7 percent increase. Since last month, Kansas gained 1,300 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs, a 0.1 percent increase. The state gained 2,400 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs, a 0.2 percent increase since last month.

“The Kansas economy is strong and continues to grow,” said Lana Gordon, Secretary of Labor. “Unemployment claims are at lows not seen since 2008. More than 23,000 Kansans have found work in the past year alone and are finding jobs that are paying better wages.”

Not seasonally adjusted figures show Kansas gained 11,400 private sector jobs since last year, or 1 percent, and 9,500 nonfarm jobs, an increase of 0.7 percent. Since August, private sector jobs decreased by 5,300, a 0.5 percent decline. The state gained 17,400 total nonfarm jobs over the month, a 1.3 percent increase.

“Despite national trends showing people leaving the labor force, Kansas continues in the right direction with more people entering the labor force and finding jobs, driving the state’s unemployment rate down,” said Justin McFarland, Director, Labor Market Information Services.

The October Labor Report will be released Nov. 21.