Department of Numbers

Topeka, Kansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Topeka fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Kansas rate. The unemployment rate in Topeka peaked in April 2020 at 12.2% and is now 9.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.4% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Topeka unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Kansas 2.9% 0.0 +0.4
Topeka 2.8% 0.0 +0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Topeka, Kansas, National

Topeka, Kansas monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Topeka, Kansas Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Topeka peaked in April 2020 at 14,587. There are now 11,168 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,920 in February 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 499. Topeka employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Topeka, Kansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Topeka 3,419 -9 +393

Number of Unemployed Persons

Topeka, Kansas Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Kansas
Unemployment Rate
Topeka
Unemployment Rate
Topeka
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 2.9% 2.8% 3,419
December
2022
3.5% 2.9% 2.8% 3,428
November
2022
3.6% 2.9% 2.8% 3,351
October
2022
3.7% 3.0% 2.7% 3,292
September
2022
3.5% 2.9% 2.7% 3,202
August
2022
3.7% 2.8% 2.6% 3,165
July
2022
3.5% 2.7% 2.6% 3,121
June
2022
3.6% 2.6% 2.5% 3,077
May
2022
3.6% 2.5% 2.5% 3,022
April
2022
3.6% 2.4% 2.4% 2,933
March
2022
3.6% 2.4% 2.5% 2,939

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.