Hailey
Imagine you’re waiting eagerly for a monthly job report in your state—how many people are unemployed, which industries are hiring, or which ones are struggling.
Now imagine that report suddenly gets delayed—not because of technical problems, but because the federal government is shut down. That’s what’s happening in Kansas.
In this article, we will explore how the federal shutdown is preventing Kansas from releasing its monthly labor report, why that matters, and what the effects are.
Kansas Labor Market: What the Latest Data Shows
Even though the most recent data is delayed, here’s what we know from the latest available reports (through August):
Key figures
| Metric / Sector | Change (Last Year) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | Around 3.8% | Stayed fairly stable over the past year |
| Nonfarm jobs lost | 4,700 jobs | In August, overall nonfarm jobs in Kansas fell |
| Private sector jobs lost | 1,300 jobs | Part of the overall loss |
Strong vs Weak sectors
- Leisure & Hospitality: The best performer recently, adding ~600 jobs between July and August.
- State & Local Government: The worst among sectors, losing ~3,500 jobs.
- Trades, Transportation & Utilities: Also saw losses, ~2,100 jobs gone in the same period.
- Over the past year:
- Government sector lost ~9,200 jobs (largest drop
- Private education & health services gained about 3,300 jobs
- Financial activities added ~2,600 jobs
So already before the shutdown, some sectors were doing well while others were under pressure.
Why This Matters: Why We Need the Report
1. Tracking the workforce
These monthly reports are tools for people to see where the economy is heading. Are jobs being created? Are businesses expanding? Is unemployment rising? Without new data, those questions remain unanswered.
2. Decisions by leaders and investors
Economists, policymakers, businesses, and investors depend on this data. When they don’t have up-to-date figures, their predictions and plans become less reliable.
3. Public accountability
Citizens have a right to know how their state’s economy is doing — which sectors are helping, which are lagging. The delay removes transparency.
4. State vs Federal interaction
Even though this is a state-level report, it’s tied to federal systems (like BLS). When the federal system stops, the state gets affected too.
The Bigger Picture: The 2025 U.S. Federal Shutdown
- The 2025 U.S. federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, because Congress couldn’t pass funding legislation on time.
- As a result, many federal agencies suspended work or operated in limited ways. Data collection and economic reporting was one of the affected areas.
- This shutdown is affecting many states and sectors, not just Kansas. Delays in economic data are becoming one of the visible problems.
What Can Be Done & What to Watch
- Once federal funding resumes, the Kansas Department of Labor and BLS will likely catch up on delayed work.
- Analysts will be watching for a big jump or dip in the first post-shutdown report — it could mask real changes in jobs.
- Policymakers may push for contingency plans so that future shutdowns don’t paralyze economic data reporting.
- Public pressure and media attention can help ensure the issue isn’t buried until it’s too late.
In short: because the federal government is shut down, Kansas cannot publish its monthly jobs report for September. That means people can’t see the latest unemployment data or which sectors are doing well or poorly.
The latest official data is stuck at August 2025, leaving a gap. These reports are essential—they help state leaders, businesses, and citizens make informed choices. The delay hurts transparency, decision-making, and understanding of where the state economy is headed.
We hope the federal shutdown ends soon, so that Kansas and other states can resume normal reporting and everyone can see clearly how the job market is evolving.