The July employment report is raising concerns in Topeka after the state Department of Labor reported the state shed 5,600 jobs last month.

The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/2b8kZ0n) reports private-sector jobs fell by 4,600 jobs in July, with the biggest drop in professional and business services. For the year, Kansas has lost 700 private-sector jobs, despite assurances from Gov. Sam Brownback that his tax cuts are working.

The Department of Labor report says the state’s unemployment rate rose to 4.1 percent in July, up from 3.8 percent a month earlier. The jobless rate is still better than the national mark of 4.9 percent, but the U.S. gained 255,000 jobs last month as a whole.

A Labor Department economist says positive strides in the Kansas City area didn’t offset statewide declines.

—
Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com.