Work Force Development


WSU and WSU Tech Contribute $1.3 billion to KS Economy, Study Says

Posted August 14, 2023 Wichita State University announced the results of its 2022 Economic Impact Study, showing its total economic impact in Kansas in 2021 reached $1.3 billion. According to the study published earlier in August, WSU and WSU Tech’s… more

Unemployment Claims Get a Bump for The First Week in August

Posited August 14, 2023 In the week ending August 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 248,000, an increase of 21,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 227,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The… more

Smithfield Foods to Close 35 Missouri Hog Farms

Posted August 9, 2023 Smithfield Foods Inc. will close operations and lay off more than 90 workers in northwestern Missouri later this fall, according to the state's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the pork processor announced this week. Smithfield… more

Garmin to Acquire Audio Solutions Manufacturer, JL Audio

Posted August 8, 2023 Olathe-based Garmin Ltd. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire JL Audio, a privately-held U.S. company that designs and manufactures audio solutions for multiple automotive markets. The completion of this acquisition is expected… more

Yellow Corp. Officially Declares Bankruptcy

Posted August 7, 2023 The trucking company Yellow Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with layoffs’ totaling around 30,000 employees, according to a release. The Nashville, Tenn.-based less-than-truckload company (formerly Overland Park-based) filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy with… more

Missouri Placed In Top 5 States For Retirement, New Data Shows

Posted August 7, 2023 The Show-Me State is among the best states for anyone close to retirement and looking to settle down in according to a new data analysis. In an analysis from Bankrate, Missouri was ranked fourth best for… more

Unemployment Claims Gain A Slight Bump This Week

Posted August 3, 2023 Americans applying for unemployment benefits increased last week, causing a bump in weekly claims but the rate continues to maintain a low level in the job market, according to the U.S. Department of Labor report released… more

EV Component Manufacturer Selects KC For Its North American HQ

Posted August 2, 2023 Cnano Technology USA, Inc. announced Wednesday plans to invest $94.7 million in a 333,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at the Commerce Center, bringing 112 jobs to the facility and $7.1 million in payroll. The new facility will produce… more

Where KS and MO Rank Among Top 1 Percent by State

Posted July 31, 2023 The threshold for entering the top 1 percent income household varies from state to state, a study from SmartAsset shows how much it takes to climb the economic ladder in the two-state region. The study, America’s… more

Woman Employment Reaches New Hight: KS and MO’s Woman-to-Men Workforce Gap Varies

Posted July 31, 2023 Women’s employment in the United States has reached a new record, according to a Stateline analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.  In June, the labor force participation rate for women in… more