Department of Numbers

Topeka, Kansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Topeka fell 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 2.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Kansas rate. The unemployment rate in Topeka peaked in April 2020 at 12.1% and is now 9.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.4% in December 2021, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.5 percentage points. You can also compare Topeka unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Kansas 2.9% 0.0 0.0
Topeka 2.9% -0.1 0.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December 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 14,567. There are now 11,026 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,881 in January 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 660. Topeka employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Topeka, Kansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Topeka 3,541 -95 +12

Number of Unemployed Persons

Topeka, Kansas Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate		 Kansas
Unemployment Rate		 Topeka
Unemployment Rate		 Topeka
Unemployed
December
2023		 3.7% — — —
November
2023		 3.7% 2.9% 2.9% 3,541
October
2023		 3.8% 2.9% 3.0% 3,636
September
2023		 3.8% 2.8% 2.9% 3,530
August
2023		 3.8% 2.7% 2.9% 3,501
July
2023		 3.5% 2.7% 2.9% 3,508
June
2023		 3.6% 2.8% 3.0% 3,626
May
2023		 3.7% 2.9% 3.0% 3,617
April
2023		 3.4% 2.9% 3.0% 3,611
March
2023		 3.5% 2.9% 2.9% 3,540
February
2023		 3.6% 2.9% 2.9% 3,524
January
2023		 3.4% 2.9% 2.9% 3,479

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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