Kansas Regains Lost Private-Sector Jobs

A state economist says Kansas has regained the private-sector jobs it lost during the most recent recession but has seen a shift away from employment in manufacturing.

Kansas Department of Labor senior economist Tyler Tenbrink also said Wednesday that wages haven’t rebounded fully from the recession when adjusted for inflation.

Tenbrink reported on employment and wages during a meeting of a council advising Republican Gov. Sam Brownback on the economy. He said manufacturing jobs have been mostly replaced by jobs in professional and business services.

Tenbrink said the state should see continued growth in private, non-farm employment for the next six to 12 months.

Brownback successfully pushed personal income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013 to stimulate the economy, but the state now faces budget shortfalls.