Kansas Lost 16,000 Jobs in 2008

Kansas lost 16,000 jobs since last February, a 1.2% decrease, according to a report from the Kansas Department of Labor.

The state’s unemployment rate is 6.2%, up from 4% last year.

The Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area reported an unemployment rate of 6%, up from 3.7%.

There were 23,980 initial claims for unemployment benefits in February, down from 26,744 initial claims in January. But it was a significant increase from February 2008, which saw 10,486 initial claims.