State Unempmplyment Stats Improve; SEK, Not So Much

While the unemployment figures for Kansas as a whole are looking up, for southewast Kansas they aren't so encouraging. The state saw a 3/10 of one percent improvement in the jobless rate from December to January, while most of the counties in our listening area sae an increase in those out of work of more than one-half of one percent. However, the area did show a similar improvement when compared to year-ago figures as did the state as a whole.

Here's how it breaks down:

• In January, Allen county had 7.1% unemployment, up from 6.6% in December but down from 8.6% in January 2011.
• Anderson county had 7.9% unemployment in January, up from 7.2% in December, but sharply better then January 2011's 9.9%
• Labette county edged up in January, with 9% unemployment compared to December's 8.6%. But a year ago, Labette county had 10% unemployment.
• Neosho county: 7.9% in January, up from 7.2% in December and down from 9.5% a year ago.
• Wilson county: 9.8% in January, up from 9.3% in December and down from a whopping 11.5% a year ago.
• Woodson county: 6.3% in January, nearly even with December's 6.2% but down substantially from January 2011, which was 7.6%.