Wichita Employment Forecast

Released January 8, 2018  (See previous version.)

In the last twelve months, employment in the Wichita metropolitan area has grown by 1.4 percent.  In 2018, Wichita total nonfarm employment is forecast to increase by 1,496 jobs, growing 0.5 percent, with an expected growth range between 0.3 percent and 0.8 percent. This is expected to be modestly lower than Wichita’s average employment growth rate over the last five years, which has been 0.8 percent.

• The production sectors are projected to grow 0.6 percent in 2018.  The construction and mining sector is forecast to have the strongest growth, adding over 500 jobs, while the durable and non-durable manufacturing sectors are projected to collectively decline by approximately 100 jobs, combined.
   
• The trade, transportation and utilities sector is forecast to contract by 0.2. The job losses are expected to be concentrated in the retail trade sector, with over 350 jobs lost.  The transportation and utilities sector is projected to experience the strongest growth, adding over 200 jobs.  Employment in wholesale trade sector is expected to remain approximately flat in 2018.
   
• The service sectors are projected to continue to lead Wichita’s employment growth in 2018, expanding by 0.8 percent.  The fastest growing service sectors and expected to be the education and health services sector and the leisure and hospitality sector, each of which are forecast to grow by approximately 1.5 percent.  The professional and business services sector is projected to grow by 0.9 percent. The information sector and financial activities sector are both forecast to contract modestly.
   
• Government employment is expected to remain approximately flat in 2018, expanding by 0.1 percent.  Federal government employment is forecast to decline modestly while local government employment is forecast to increase slightly.