Kansas experienced significant job losses in 2024, with over 3,500 layoffs reported across various industries, as indicated by federally mandated WARN notices. The Kansas City metro area was hit the hardest, with General Motors leading the year’s layoffs, cutting approximately 1,695 jobs on September 19.
Tyson Foods followed closely, announcing the layoff of 809 employees at its Emporia facility on December 2. Other notable layoffs included Walmart in Edgerton (318 jobs), Timken Belts in Fort Scott (152 jobs), and Valu Merchandisers, which closed its Fort Scott location, resulting in 118 job losses.
Additional cuts were made by Hostess Brands in Lenexa (79 jobs), Unidine in Wichita (67 jobs), and Eaton Corporation, which laid off 68 employees at an unspecified Kansas facility.
The logistics sector in Kansas City also saw a significant impact, with layoffs from Legacy Distribution Warehouse (76 jobs), Comprehensive Logistics (18 jobs), and Penske Logistics (70 jobs). French auto supplier OPmobility further added to the toll with 72 layoffs on September 18.
While WARN notices are intended to give workers time to prepare for layoffs, they are only required for large-scale reductions affecting 50 or more employees at a single location, leaving smaller layoffs or those involving less than a third of a workforce unreported.
This limitation means that the actual impact of job losses could be even greater. With 3,542 jobs lost in 2024, up from 2,923 in 2023, Kansas continues to face economic challenges, underscoring the importance of retraining and support programs for displaced workers.
