Kansas nursing occupational outlook 1998-2008

Kansas Nurse, Mar 2003

New job increases are also expected for nursing aides: In 1998 there were 16,040 nursing aides and orderlies employed. This occupation is expected to experience a growth of 26.1 percent with the addition of 4,190 new jobs.

North East Kansas

17 counties; [Atchison, Brown, clay, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington.]

Major employment centers include Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, and junction City. The unemployment rate for the region has historically been stable, but higher than that of the state as a whole. The 1998 rate for this region was 4.5 percent compared to 3.8 percent for the state. RNs are a fast growing occupation with annual job openings expected of 28.0 percent or the addition of 1,300 new positions.

Kansas City

4 counties: [Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Wyandotte.]

The region is one of the most densely population in the state. The 1998 unemployment rate for the region was 3.9 percent. RNs are considered to be one of the Kansas City occupations adding the most jobs by 2008. The area is projected to experience a 27.8 percent increase in nursing positions.

South Central Kansas

7 counties: [Butler, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Sedgwick, Sumner.]

Wichita is the major employment center in the area. In 1998, south central Kansas led the state in manufacturing employment, with 37 percent of the workers in this industry. The unemployment rate for this region is closely related to the economic stability of the aircraft production industry. In 1998 the unemployment rate was 3.4 percent compared to the state rate of 3.8 percent.

RN positions are expected to increase 28.0 percent or 1,470 jobs by 2008. Nursing aide or orderly positions will also increase by 25.9 percent, which will add 890 jobs.

South East Kansas

17 counties : [Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Linn, Lyon, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, Woodson.]

Major employment centers include Emporia, Pittsburg, Coffeyville, and Parsons. The unemployment rate for this region has remained stable in recent years, but has been above that of the state, with a rate of 5.4 percent in 1998.

Registered nurses and nursing aides/orderlies are listed second and third respectively in occupations adding the most jobs. RNs will add 530 jobs at a rate of 28.5 percent, and nursing aides are projected to add 27.0 percent or 500 new jobs by 2008.

South West Kansas

21 counties: [Barber, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kiowa, Meade, Morton, Pawnee, Pratt, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens.]

Major unemployment centers include Garden City, Dodge City, and Liberal. The unemployment rate has historically been lower than the state average with a 2.6 percent rate for the region.

RNs are projected to experience a 27.5 percent growth (420) in jobs by 2008 and nursing aides/orderlies will add 250 jobs at a rate of 25.5 percent.