Featured Stories
USDA Offers Farm Loans for Beginning Farmers
WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency issued the following news release:
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USDA Offers Farm Loans for Beginning Farmers
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, April 21, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers that FSA offers farm ownership and farm operating loans to beginning farmers and ranchers. Beginning farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank can apply for FSA direct or guaranteed loans.
"Farming and ranching is a capital-intensive business and FSA is committed to helping producers
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WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency issued the following news release:
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USDA Offers Farm Loans for Beginning Farmers
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, April 21, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers that FSA offers farm ownership and farm operating loans to beginning farmers and ranchers. Beginning farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank can apply for FSA direct or guaranteed loans.
"Farming and ranching is a capital-intensive business and FSA is committed to helping producersstart and maintain their agricultural operations," said Jennifer Hicks, Acting FSA State Executive Director in Utah. "FSA loans are designed to make sure that everyone has access to credit. Last fiscal year, FSA in Utah obligated $25,509,810 million in loans to beginning farmers and ranchers."
In order to qualify as a beginning farmer, the individual or entity must meet the eligibility requirements outlined for direct or guaranteed loans. Additionally, individuals and all entity members must have operated a farm for less than 10 years. Applicants must materially or substantially participate in the operation. For farm ownership purposes, the applicant must not own a farm greater than 30% of the average size farm in the county at the time of application.
All direct farm ownership applicants must have participated in the business operations of a farm for at least three years out of the last 10 years prior to the date the application is submitted to FSA. Substitutions for as much as the full three years of experience may be made depending on education, military experience, participation with a SCORE mentor, and farm management experience as a hired hand. Your local FSA office will be able to provide more details on acceptable substitutions.
If the applicant is an entity, all members must be related by blood or marriage and all entity members must be eligible beginning farmers. At least one of the members must have three years or more experience in the business operations of a farm prior to the date the application is submitted.
Direct loans are made to applicants by FSA. Guaranteed loans are made by lending institutions who arrange for FSA to guarantee the loan. FSA can guarantee up to 95% of the loss of principal and interest on a loan. The FSA guarantee allows lenders to make agricultural credit available to producers who do not meet the lender's normal underwriting criteria.
The direct and guaranteed loan program offers two types of loans: farm ownership loans and farm operating loans.
Farm ownership loan funds may be used to purchase or enlarge a farm or ranch; purchase easements or rights of way needed in the farm's operation; build or improve buildings such as a dwelling or barn; promote soil and water conservation and development; and pay closing costs.
Farm operating loan funds may be used to purchase livestock, poultry, farm equipment, fertilizer, and other materials necessary to operate a farm. Operating loan funds can also be used for family living expenses; refinancing debts under certain conditions; paying salaries for hired farm laborers; installing or improving water systems for home, livestock or irrigation use; and other similar improvements.
Repayment terms for direct operating loans are scheduled from one to seven years. Financing for direct farm ownership loans cannot exceed 40 years. Interest rates for direct loans are set periodically according to the government's cost of borrowing. Guaranteed loan terms and interest rates are set by the lender.
For more information on FSA's farm loan programs and beginning farmer guidelines, please contact your local FSA office or visit farmers.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
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Original text here: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-events/news/04-21-2025/usda-offers-farm-loans-beginning-farmers
ORISE Health Studies Participates in the NCRP Annual Meeting
OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, April 22 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education issued the following news:
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ORISE Health Studies participates in the NCRP Annual Meeting
April 21, 2025 - ORISE Health Studies Director Ashley Golden, Ph.D., and ORISE Epidemiologist Sara Howard were invited presenters at the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Annual Meeting on March 24-25, 2025, in Bethesda, Md. The overall theme for the NCRP Annual Meeting was, "The Million Person Study: Current Results and Vision for Radiation Epidemiology and
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OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, April 22 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education issued the following news:
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ORISE Health Studies participates in the NCRP Annual Meeting
April 21, 2025 - ORISE Health Studies Director Ashley Golden, Ph.D., and ORISE Epidemiologist Sara Howard were invited presenters at the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Annual Meeting on March 24-25, 2025, in Bethesda, Md. The overall theme for the NCRP Annual Meeting was, "The Million Person Study: Current Results and Vision for Radiation Epidemiology andProtection," which was intended to highlight the important work of the Million Person Study (MPS) for ensuring the health of the nuclear workforce through rigorous evaluation of the health risks associated from ionizing radiation exposure in one million U.S. workers and veterans.
Golden's presentation, "U.S. Department of Energy Radiation Cohorts: Importance to the Million Person," provided an overview and current progress of the DOE radiation cohorts within MPS, which represents more than 300,000 workers from multiple DOE facilities. Golden's presentation also discussed how MPS leverages data previously collected from sources such as the historical DOE Health and Mortality Studies and DOE's Radiation Exposure Monitoring System to study each facility included in MPS.
Howard's poster presentation titled, "One Million People and Millions of Data Points: A Practical Implementation of the Data Lifecycle using the Million Person Study and Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource," highlighted the relationship between the MPS and Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR). CEDR is DOE's data repository, which houses health and mortality data of DOE workers, contractors, or former from previously published studies. The majority of the data in CEDR pertain to occupational exposures to radiation and the associated effects, which makes CEDR a value resource for the MPS.
Media Contacts
Pam Bonee
Director, Communications
Phone: 865.603.5142
pam.bonee@orau.org
Wendy West
Manager, Communications
Phone: 865.207.7953
wendy.west@orau.org
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) asset that is dedicated to enabling critical scientific, research, and health initiatives of the department and its laboratory system by providing world class expertise in STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination.
ORISE is managed by ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, for DOE's Office of Science. The single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.osti.gov [science.osti.gov].
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Original text here: https://orise.orau.gov/news/archive/2025/orise-health-studies-participates-in-the-ncrp-annual-meeting.html
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Wisconsin Couple for Forced Labor
WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Wisconsin Couple for Forced Labor
An indictment was unsealed today in Madison, Wisconsin charging a Wisconsin man with seven counts of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and seven counts of alien harboring for private financial gain; the indictment further charged the man's wife with seven counts of forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor.
According to the indictment, between September 2015 and March 2018, Luis Abreu, 50, and his
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WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Wisconsin Couple for Forced Labor
An indictment was unsealed today in Madison, Wisconsin charging a Wisconsin man with seven counts of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and seven counts of alien harboring for private financial gain; the indictment further charged the man's wife with seven counts of forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor.
According to the indictment, between September 2015 and March 2018, Luis Abreu, 50, and hiswife, Cybell Abreu, 50, used threats of serious harm and abuse of the law and legal process to coerce seven minor males and young men to perform labor and services. The indictment further alleges that Luis Abreu harbored the seven boys and young men, who he knew or recklessly disregarded to be unlawfully present in the United States.
The defendants made their initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Wisconsin on April 21. The charge of forced labor carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of alien harboring carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O'Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin, and Homeland Security Investigations Resident Agent in Charge Eric Rice of the HSI Milwaukee Office made the announcement.
The HSI Milwaukee Office of the Resident Agent in Charge conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger for the Western District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-indicts-wisconsin-couple-forced-labor
FAA Accelerates Critical Technology Upgrade
WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration issued the following news release:
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FAA Accelerates Critical Technology Upgrade
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is accelerating the modernization of a critical safety system that alerts pilots and flight planners about airspace changes.
The FAA will deploy a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) service this year, much earlier than originally planned. The FAA used a streamlined, innovative vendor challenge to cut through red tape to get this critical work done as fast as possible.
"The Notice
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WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration issued the following news release:
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FAA Accelerates Critical Technology Upgrade
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is accelerating the modernization of a critical safety system that alerts pilots and flight planners about airspace changes.
The FAA will deploy a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) service this year, much earlier than originally planned. The FAA used a streamlined, innovative vendor challenge to cut through red tape to get this critical work done as fast as possible.
"The Noticeto Airmen system is deeply outdated and showing serious cracks," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. "Over the last few years, we've seen multiple system outages ground regional air travel, create extensive delays, and otherwise ruin the flying experience for the American people. It's time our technology enters the 21st Century. NOTAM modernization is the first step as we work to deliver an all-new air traffic control system that makes air travel safer and more efficient."
NOTAMs communicate temporary changes such as runway closures, airspace restrictions and obstructions, to pilots and flight planners. More than 4 million NOTAMs are issued annually.
The modernization will provide near-real-time data exchange, enabling efficient dataflows and better stakeholder collaboration. The system will be securely hosted in the cloud, and it will have a scalable and resilient architecture.
A major NOTAM system outage in January 2023 highlighted the fragility of the system and the need to speed up the modernization.
The FAA selected CGI Federal, Inc., to work on modernizing the NOTAM system and deploying the service.
CGI is currently on an accelerated schedule to deliver the NOTAM Modernization Service by July 2025, and the FAA is targeting deployment of the operational service by September 2025.
"Americans deserve the best aviation system in the world," said Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau. "We worked with the best and brightest and came up with an accelerated approach to bring our technology into the 21st Century."
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Original text here: https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-accelerates-critical-technology-upgrade
EPA Announces Appointment of Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey as Regional Administrator for Mid-Atlantic
WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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EPA Announces Appointment of Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey as Regional Administrator for Mid-Atlantic
PHILADELPHIA - Today, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that President Donald J. Trump appointed Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey as EPA's Mid-Atlantic (Region 3) Regional Administrator. Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey will oversee the implementation of federal environmental laws and priorities of the administration's agenda in Delaware,
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WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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EPA Announces Appointment of Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey as Regional Administrator for Mid-Atlantic
PHILADELPHIA - Today, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that President Donald J. Trump appointed Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey as EPA's Mid-Atlantic (Region 3) Regional Administrator. Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey will oversee the implementation of federal environmental laws and priorities of the administration's agenda in Delaware,Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and of EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program. She is the first woman appointed to lead the EPA Mid-Atlantic Region in the agency's history.
"Amy's experience and dedication to both agriculture and the environment make her a tremendous asset to the agency and the Mid-Atlantic Region," said Administrator Zeldin. "I am confident she is well equipped to carry out our mission and help deliver on our agenda to Power the Great American comeback."
"My commitment to sustainability traces back to over 30 years ago, when I founded a county-wide environmental group focused on watershed management and agricultural best practices. I'm excited to harness my passion for the environment to facilitate progress and support the Great American Comeback under the leadership of Administrator Zeldin and President Trump," said Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey.
Van Blarcom-Lackey has a distinguished history of service, having been appointed as the first Agricultural Ombudsman in the state of Pennsylvania where she served as a crucial link to agriculture communities, addressing conflicts related to agriculture, land use, and environmental planning. She brings more than a decade of experience as a lobbyist for both state and federal agricultural interests and over 20 years of experience in finance and business management.
A lifelong conservationist, Van Blarcom-Lackey was raised in rural Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed on her family's dairy farm. Her successful tenure managing her own family enterprises, along with her work in the financial industry, equipped her with a keen understanding of the intersection between business, environmental, and community needs.
Van Blarcom-Lackey resides in Philadelphia with her family.
Here's what people are saying about Amy's presidential appointment
"We congratulate the EPA and Administrator Lee Zeldin on the selection of Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey to serve as the agency's Region 3 Administrator. Amy is enormously qualified, bringing both extensive experience and a strong understanding of the region she will be overseeing," said Representative Dan Meuser (PA-09). "Her commonsense approach, sharp cost-benefit skills, and first-hand knowledge of the Mid-Atlantic will ensure she is a productive and effective Regional Administrator. The region has many unique nuances, which Amy is not only well acquainted with, but also approaches with a deep commitment to the short- and long-term growth and integrity of our communities and industries."
"I extend my congratulations to Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey on her appointment to serve as Region 3 Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Amy is a constituent of my Senate District from Bradford County, and I am proud to see that she has been appointed to this very important position," said Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw (R-23). "Amy comes from a farming family who I have known and worked with for more than a decade. Her background and experience in agriculture and conservation will serve her well in addressing water quality, flood control, the Chesapeake Bay and the myriad of other environmental issues impacting our region. I look forward to working with Amy in this new position."
"Amy's commitment to balance protecting the environment and common sense will serve our area, state, and region well," said Pennsylvania State Representative Clint Owlett (R-68). "She will be a solid voice for our rural values and brings stability and predictability to our communities.
"Amy is a great choice for Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. She brings to the position a Cornell education, a background in both agriculture and energy, a great knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and past work in finance, which all make her the best possible choice. Bradford County is proud of her and we know she will serve the region well," said Doug McLinko, Bradford County Commissioner.
"I met Amy in 2000 when she was hired as the very first ombudsman with the State Conservation Commission. In the few years I worked with Amy it was very apparent that she was very pragmatic and thoughtful when going to meetings and listening to some of the contentious situations between agriculture and the community. Amy had a soft ear and a desire to understand the concerns of the community," said Chris Strohmaier, Managing Director, Chester County Conservation District. "I have no doubt that Amy will do an excellent job in this position to protect the environment, but to also understand the many industries that operate within that environment."
"I have known Amy since our freshman year at Cornell University. Amy was a natural leader on campus and continued that path in her professional career," said Harriet Wegmeyer, COO of Wegmeyer Farms and retired Executive Director of Nutrients for Life Foundation. "Her life-long experience as a farmer, combined with her years of advocating for farmers and the environment, make her a perfect match for this position."
"Amy is a tenacious leader, a devoted mom, and a go-getter with a growth mindset whose deep roots in agriculture and steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship make her uniquely positioned to lead with both heart and expertise," said Heather Madland, Managing Director, Business Development, Novacap.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-appointment-amy-van-blarcom-lackey-regional-administrator-mid-atlantic
BLS - Southwest Region Issues Report Entitled 'Arkansas Job Openings and Labor Turnover - February 2025'
DALLAS, Texas, April 22 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on April 21, 2025, entitled "Arkansas Job Openings and Labor Turnover - February 2025":
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Arkansas had 86,000 job openings in February 2025, compared to 78,000 openings in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the job openings rate in Arkansas was 5.9 percent in February and 5.4 percent in the previous month. (See chart
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DALLAS, Texas, April 22 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on April 21, 2025, entitled "Arkansas Job Openings and Labor Turnover - February 2025":
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Arkansas had 86,000 job openings in February 2025, compared to 78,000 openings in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the job openings rate in Arkansas was 5.9 percent in February and 5.4 percent in the previous month. (See chart1 and table 2.) The job openings rate nationally was 4.5 percent in February and 4.7 percent in January. (See table 3.) All data in this release are seasonally adjusted.
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Chart 1. Job openings as a percent of employment for the United States and Arkansas, seasonally adjusted
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The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening in Arkansas was 0.6 in February. Nationwide, 31 states and the District of Columbia had ratios in February that were lower than the national measure of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening; 14 states had ratios that were higher than the national ratio, and 5 states had ratios equal to the national measure. (See map 1.)
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Map 1. Number of unemployed persons per job opening by state, February 2025, seasonally adjusted
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In February, Arkansas had 50,000 hires and 55,000 separations, compared to 51,000 hires and 49,000 separations in January. (See chart 2.) Over the 12 months ending in February, hires have averaged 54,000 per month and separations have averaged 52,000 per month. These averages include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.
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Chart 2. Hires and total separations in Arkansas, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
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Among the February separations in Arkansas, 33,000 were quits and 18,000 were layoffs and discharges, compared to 31,000 quits and 15,000 layoffs and discharges in January. (See chart 3.) Over the year, quits averaged 33,000 per month, ranging from 28,000 to 38,000. Layoffs and discharges have averaged 16,000 per month, ranging from 13,000 to 22,000.
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Chart 3. Quits and layoffs and discharges in Arkansas, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
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The State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for March 2025 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
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Upcoming Revisions to the JOLTS State Estimates
Effective with the release of May 2025 data on July 23, 2025, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) state estimates will incorporate the annual benchmark revisions to JOLTS national estimates, updated Current Employment Statistics (CES) employment estimates, and updated Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data. Seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted data from January 2020 forward are subject to revision. In addition, 2024 annual estimates for states will be released at this time.
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Technical Note
This news release presents statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The JOLTS program provides information on labor demand and turnover. The state estimates produced by JOLTS are model-based, incorporating JOLTS sample, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates. For more information see the JOLTS State Estimates Methodology.
Job Openings. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the reference month. A job is open only if it meets all three of these conditions:
* A specific position exists and there is work available for that position.
* The job could start within 30 days.
* The employer is actively recruiting workers from outside the establishment to fill the position.
The number of unemployed persons per job opening is a ratio of the level of unemployed persons and the level of job openings. The number of unemployed persons at the national level is an estimate from the Current Population Survey (CPS), while state-level unemployment estimates are modeled by the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program. A ratio of 1.0 means there is a job available for every unemployed person. Lower ratios signal tighter labor markets, where firms have more job openings than there are unemployed persons available to work. Higher ratios indicate there are more unemployed persons competing for each job opening.
Hires. Hires include all additions to the payroll during the entire reference month.
Separations. Separations include all separations from the payroll during the entire reference month and is reported by type of separation: quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations.
* Quits include employees who left voluntarily, except for retirements or transfers to other locations.
* Layoffs and discharges include involuntary separations initiated by the employer.
* Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, separations due to employee disability, and deaths.
Levels and rates of other separations represent a small portion of total separations and are not published with the release of state estimates.
Complete definitions, including exclusions, and additional information about the State JOLTS data presented in this release are available in the State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Technical Note.
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Table 1. Job openings and labor turnover for Arkansas, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
Table 2. Job openings and labor turnover rates for Arkansas, seasonally adjusted
Table 3. Job openings and labor turnover rates for the United States, seasonally adjusted
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/news-release/2025/jobopeningslaborturnover_arkansas_20250421.htm
BLS - Mountain-Plains Region Issues Report Entitled 'Kansas Job Openings and Labor Turnover - February 2024'
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, April 22 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Mountain-Plains Regional Information Office issued the following report on April 21, 2025, entitled "Kansas Job Openings and Labor Turnover - February 2024":
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Kansas had 68,000 job openings in February 2025, compared to 75,000 openings in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the job openings rate in Kansas was 4.5 percent in February and 4.9 percent in the previous month. (See
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri, April 22 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Mountain-Plains Regional Information Office issued the following report on April 21, 2025, entitled "Kansas Job Openings and Labor Turnover - February 2024":
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Kansas had 68,000 job openings in February 2025, compared to 75,000 openings in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the job openings rate in Kansas was 4.5 percent in February and 4.9 percent in the previous month. (Seechart 1 and table 2.) The job openings rate nationally was 4.5 percent in February and 4.7 percent in January. (See table 3.) All data in this release are seasonally adjusted.
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Chart 1. Job openings as a percent of employment for the United States and Kansas, seasonally adjusted
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The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening in Kansas was 0.9 in February. Nationwide, 31 states and the District of Columbia had ratios in February that were lower than the national measure of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening; 5 states had ratios equal to the national ratio, and 14 states had ratios that were higher. (See map 1.)
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Map 1. Number of unemployed persons per job opening by state, February 2025, seasonally adjusted
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In February, Kansas had 51,000 hires and 42,000 separations, compared to 52,000 hires and 57,000 separations in January. (See chart 2.) Over the 12 months ending in February, hires and separations each averaged 51,000 per month. These averages include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.
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Chart 2. Hires and total separations in Kansas, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
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Among the February separations in Kansas, 29,000 were quits and 11,000 were layoffs and discharges, compared to 36,000 quits and 17,000 layoffs and discharges in January. (See chart 3.) Over the year, quits averaged 31,000 per month, ranging from 27,000 to 36,000. Layoffs and discharges have averaged 16,000 per month, ranging from 11,000 to 19,000.
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Chart 3. Quits and layoffs and discharges in Kansas, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
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The State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for March 2025 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
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Upcoming Revisions to the JOLTS State Estimates
Effective with the release of May 2025 data on July 23, 2025, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) state estimates will incorporate the annual benchmark revisions to JOLTS national estimates, updated Current Employment Statistics (CES) employment estimates, and updated Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data. Seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted data from January 2020 forward are subject to revision. In addition, 2024 annual estimates for states will be released at this time.
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Technical Note
This news release presents statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The JOLTS program provides information on labor demand and turnover. The state estimates produced by JOLTS are model-based, incorporating JOLTS sample, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates. For more information see the JOLTS State Estimates Methodology.
Job Openings. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the reference month. A job is open only if it meets all three of these conditions:
* A specific position exists and there is work available for that position.
* The job could start within 30 days.
* The employer is actively recruiting workers from outside the establishment to fill the position.
The number of unemployed persons per job opening is a ratio of the level of unemployed persons and the level of job openings. The number of unemployed persons at the national level is an estimate from the Current Population Survey (CPS), while state-level unemployment estimates are modeled by the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program. A ratio of 1.0 means there is a job available for every unemployed person. Lower ratios signal tighter labor markets, where firms have more job openings than there are unemployed persons available to work. Higher ratios indicate there are more unemployed persons competing for each job opening.
Hires. Hires include all additions to the payroll during the entire reference month.
Separations. Separations include all separations from the payroll during the entire reference month and is reported by type of separation: quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations.
* Quits include employees who left voluntarily, except for retirements or transfers to other locations.
* Layoffs and discharges include involuntary separations initiated by the employer.
* Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, separations due to employee disability, and deaths.
Levels and rates of other separations represent a small portion of total separations and are not published with the release of state estimates.
Complete definitions, including exclusions, and additional information about the State JOLTS data presented in this release are available in the State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Technical Note.
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Table 1. Job openings and labor turnover for Kansas, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
Table 2. Job openings and labor turnover rates for Kansas, seasonally adjusted
Table 3. Job openings and labor turnover rates for the United States, seasonally adjusted
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains/news-release/2025/jobopeningslaborturnover_kansas_20250421.htm
