TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The first Kansas unemployment report for 2010 is out, and Gov. Mark Parkinson calls the numbers "discouraging."
In a report being released Wednesday, the state Department of Labor says Kansas' jobless rate in January was 7.1 percent -- up from 6.2 percent in December and 6.3 percent in January 2009. It's the highest rate since last August, when unemployment in the state hit 7.2 percent.
The report also says Kansas has lost 54,100 jobs over the previous 12 months.
Parkinson issued a statement saying the report shows Kansas continues to be affected by the national economic downturn.
A state labor economist says there are signs that the pace of layoffs is slowing, but no indications yet that Kansas employers are starting to hire workers.