Wichita and the state of Kansas are expected to see continued and rapid economic growth in 2024, according to the forecast released by the Wichita State University Center for Economic Development and Business Research.

The Center held its 44th annual Kansas Economic Outlook Conference on Thursday at the Century II Convention Center.

The report said the production sector is expected to lead economic growth for the Wichita metropolitan area, which includes Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey and Sumner counties.  A ramp-up of aerospace, semiconductor and food processing manufacturing is expected to lead to employment growth of 2.3 percent in 2024.   The production sector is expected to add at least 1,000 jobs, but that number does not include all of the posted jobs that have been listed by firms.   The services sector will grow by almost half a percent and the professional and business services sector is looking at growth of almost one percent.   Government is also expected to grow by almost half a percent.

The Kansas economy is projected to add over 25,000 jobs by the end of 2023, for a growth rate of 1.8 percent.  More growth is forecast for 2024, with production up almost one percent overall, but the durables manufacturing industry is poised to grow by over 4 percent with expansions in food production, semiconductor and electric battery manufacturing.   The services sector is expected to have growth of 0.6 percent for next year, but the professional and business services segment is projected to see growth of 1.2 percent.  Demands for IT consulting, cybersecurity and systems integration have generated recent growth.   The state’s overall gross domestic product is expected to grow by two percent next year.