Kansas job cuts moderate compared to bordering states

KANSAS (KSNT) – Layoffs surged nearly 40 percent last month, with employers eliminating 85,979 positions — Kansas, on the other hand, saw a modest increase in job cuts.

The analysis, released Thursday from the Challenger, Gray & Christmas consulting firm, noted that the cuts, which have hit the pharmaceutical, financial and retail industries especially hard this year, are likely linked to some of President Trump’s policies since his return to office in January.

So far this year, Kansas has had a total of 2,772 reported job cuts. The number of job cuts was moderate in comparison to neighboring states. Nebraska, for example, saw a dramatic spike in job cuts with a more than 500% increase in job cuts from 2024 to 2025.

The experts wrote that the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its sweeping cuts to the federal workforce likely had a ripple effect that prompted cutbacks. “DOGE actions” has been the top reason cited for job cuts and layoffs so far in 2025, per the analysis.

“After the impact of DOGE on the federal government, employers are citing economic and market factors as the driver of layoffs,” said Andrew Challenger, a labor expert and senior vice president at the firm. “We’ve also seen a spike in cuts due to operation or store closings and bankruptcies this year compared to last.”

The pharmaceutical industry, with 19,111 layoffs, and financial sector, with 18,092 cuts, saw the biggest losses last month.

Retailers have eliminated 83,656 jobs this year through August — up 242 percent from the 24,489 cuts announced during the same period last year. Challenger cited the role that Trump’s tariff policies have likely played and could continue to have through the rest of the year.

Challenger also noted that seasonal hiring tends to pick up in September each year.

“Coming off the lowest August on record for hiring plans, it may be a troubling sign,” he said.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

The Hill contributed to this article.