Leading
April 30, 2012
The 33rd Annual Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference will be held Oct. 11, 2012, in the Century II Convention Hall, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Breakfast is included with the ticket purchase. More information will be available as the event draws near.
In the meantime, please follow us on Facebook, where you can learn more about the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, as well as get current information about the upcoming conference.
Across the country, there has been increased activity in oil and natural gas production due to technological advancements in hydraulic fracturing. Improvements in this technology, as well as changing oil and natural gas prices, have the potential to increase employment in the natural resources and mining industry. Evidence of this can be seen in the increasing employment levels in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and North Dakota. Although Kansas may be seeing increased activity in this industry, local employment levels have remained flat. 
The Center for Economic Development and Business Research, W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, recently released online population projections by age cohort from 2010 through 2040 for all Kansas counties. This newly released report is the second in a series of reports aimed at identifying ways to use population projection data. This report analyzes the population projections for Douglas County and demonstrates the impact migration patterns have on estimates. 
The volume of Kansas exports, as measured in billions of dollars, declined as a result of the 2008-2009 recession. There has been an upward trend since late 2009, but Kansas’ total export value has not yet regained its pre-recession level. 
The Kansas unemployment rate was 6 percent in November 2011. This continues the general decline in unemployment rates since mid-2009, after fluctuating a bit throughout 2011. Kansas employment is expected to remain flat in 2011 when compared to 2010. Gains in the production and service sectors are expected to offset losses incurred in trade, transportation and utilities, as well as the government sectors.
The Center for Economic Development and Business Research is forecasting a 0.6 percent increase in employment for 2012, for a total gain of 1,735 jobs. The 2012 forecast has been revised downward due to slower than expected national growth and continued unknowns in the local and global economy, including the closure of Boeing Wichita and the continued weakness in the Euro zone. Wichita’s forecast for 2012 indicates a year of continued stabilization.