Wichita State University has issued updated numbers for its employment forecasts for Wichita and the state of Kansas for 2021.   The numbers were prepared by the university’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research.

Wichita employment is expected to expand by only 0.4 percent next year, for a growth of more than 1,100 jobs.  The largest growth will be in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, with an expected rate of 2.2 percent.   Service sector employment will be up 0.5 percent, an expansion of more than 700 jobs.   Production sectors are expected to decline by 500 jobs, a loss of 0.8 percent, and the government sector will decline by about 100 jobs.

The state of Kansas will see an additional 6,972 jobs, for a growth rate of 0.5 percent in 2021.   The fastest growth will be in the service sectors, which are expected to add more than 7,000 new jobs, expanding by 1.1 percent.   Production sectors will grow 0.2 percent with an addition of more than 500 new jobs.   The trade, transportation and utilities sector will add more than 2,000 jobs for 0.8 percent growth, and the government sector will decline by 1.1 percent.