Department of Numbers

Topeka, Kansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Topeka rose 1.4 percentage points in January 2021 to 5.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.1 percentage points higher than the Kansas rate. The unemployment rate in Topeka peaked in April 2020 at 12.4% and is now 6.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.1% in December 2020, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.4 percentage points. You can also compare Topeka unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2021 Month/Month Year/Year
National 6.3% -0.4 +2.8
Kansas 3.4% -1.3 +0.3
Topeka 5.5% +1.4 +2.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2021 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 14,818. There are now 7,961 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,919 in December 2020, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,938. Topeka employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Topeka, Kansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2021 Month/Month Year/Year
Topeka 6,857 +1,938 +2,915

Number of Unemployed Persons

Topeka, Kansas Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate		 Kansas
Unemployment Rate		 Topeka
Unemployment Rate		 Topeka
Unemployed
March
2021		 6.0% — — —
February
2021		 6.2% 3.2% — —
January
2021		 6.3% 3.4% 5.5% 6,857
December
2020		 6.7% 4.7% 4.1% 4,919
November
2020		 6.7% 4.7% 4.9% 5,926
October
2020		 6.9% 4.7% 4.9% 5,884
September
2020		 7.8% 6.1% 5.5% 6,495
August
2020		 8.4% 6.2% 6.6% 7,852
July
2020		 10.2% 6.6% 6.7% 7,949
June
2020		 11.1% 7.0% 7.3% 8,618
May
2020		 13.3% 9.0% 10.1% 11,988
April
2020		 14.8% 12.6% 12.4% 14,818

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. ↩

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