U.S. EMPLOYMENT
EXPLORATION: KANSAS
By Georgia Adamson, USA Career
Advisor
Kansas in a “Nutshell”
Centrally
located, Kansas is within easy reach of many areas of the country. It also
offers “breathing room” because it is the 15th-largest state but is only 32nd in
population.
On the
other hand, the state’s temperature extremes might cause you to think twice
about moving there: 15.7 degrees Fahrenheit average low (record low -40) and
92.9 degrees average high (record high 121). Also, the state can experience
devastating tornadoes.
The
greatest employment opportunities probably lie in one of the larger cities,
which include Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City and Topeka (the capital).
Outside the cities, agriculture plays a large role.
[Source:
Netstate.com/The World Almanac of the U.S.A.]
Making a Living in
Kansas
Employment, Unemployment & Income:
Employment information appears in multiple locations online, including
KansasJobLink (www.kansasjoblink.com).
This site enables job seekers to establish a free account and use it in a
variety of ways.
Five of
the top 10 high-paying jobs have mean hourly wages higher than the national
average. They are: physicians and surgeons/all other; psychiatrists; family and
general practitioners; obstetricians and gynecologists; and surgeons. The pay
ranges from $83.30 to $92.98 per hour.
By
contrast, a 2006 study showed that the 10 lowest-paying jobs paid below the
national average. The lowest—counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession and
coffee shop employees—came in at $6.67/hour.
The
highest estimated employment occupation among the top 20 was
retail salespersons, with a mean wage of $10.42/hour. However, the highest
wage, $37.95, was for number 15, general and operations managers.
The
statewide unemployment rate in March 2007 was 4.1 percent, which compares
favorably with a number of other states, although the rate varies substantially
within the state.
[Sources:
Kansas Department of Labor; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics]
Major
Industries & Occupations
For more
extensive information on the Kansas labor market, consult the Department of
Labor’s “Kansas Occupational Outlook Report for 2012,” updated in 2006. Briefly,
non-farm service-providing jobs increased 44 percent from 1986 to 2005, while
non-farm goods-producing employment increased only 7.9 percent. This meant that
goods-producing industries’ share decreased from 23.4 percent to
16.6 percent, while service-providing industries’ share increased
from 76.6 percent to 83.4 percent.
Total
employment projections for 2002-2012 show an increase of 13.4 percent, with
education and health services adding the most jobs and contributing about 21
percent of overall growth, while the professional and business services industry
is expected to grow most rapidly (about 30 percent).
The top
10 occupations (most jobs added) are elementary school teachers, except special
education; waiters and waitresses; customer service representatives; truck
drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer; janitors and cleaners, except maids and
housekeeping cleaners; nursing aides, orderlies and attendants; retail
salespersons; cashiers; combined food preparation and serving workers, including
fast food; and registered nurses.
High-demand occupations include elementary school teachers, except special
education; truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer; office clerks, general;
nursing aides, orderlies and attendants; janitors and cleaners, except maids and
housekeeping cleaners; retail salespersons; registered nurses; cashiers;
combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food.
The top
10 fastest-growing occupations include architects, except landscape and naval;
medical assistants; and teachers, primary, secondary, and adult (all other).
Declining
occupations, where employment is projected to decrease, include farmers and
ranchers; stock clerks and order fillers; and secretaries (except legal, medical
and executive).
In 2002
the largest occupational groups were office and administrative support,
management, and sales and related. The greatest increase is expected in the
healthcare support group (25.6 percent) and the smallest increase in management
(4.7 percent).
Cost of Living
To figure
cost of living for the city of your choice, consult CityRating.com (http://cityrating.com/),
which indicates what your salary would need to be as well as the regional
Consumer Price Index and average annual pay.
Other
cost-of-living resources include city- and county-focused sites, as well as
sources like the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association which
compiles a quarterly cost-of-living index for numerous cities. In 2004 Wichita
had a 94.1. In 2005 Lawrence had 97.6, and Hutchinson came in at 89.9.
[Sources:
CityRating.com; Kochcareers.com; Hutchchamber.com]
Online Resources
About Author
Georgia Adamson provides career-management services, including personal
coaching programs and résumé - and cover letter writing services, through
her company,
A Successful Career.
Adamson works with job seekers and career changers from entry to executive
level throughout the United States and in several other countries. Her
résumés and cover letters have appeared in nine books, and she is a
Certified Employment Interview Professional, a Credentialed Career Master, a
Job and Career Transition Coach, a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and
a Certified Career Management Coach.
