Johnson County economic indicators: unemployment edges up, single‑family sales and permits rise

Johnson County officials received a brief economic update May 29 showing employment and housing measures moving unevenly through early 2025.

Julie Kearns, deputy county manager, told the Board of County Commissioners that the County Economic Research Institute (CEWRI) indicators show the unemployment rate for March 2025 at 3.6%, up from 2.8% in March 2024. Kearns said year‑to‑date single‑family home sales were up 7% and single‑family building permits were up 14%.

"In March of 2025, the unemployment rate actually rose to 3.6% compared to 2.8% the previous year," Kearns said. She also reported that total retail sales for Johnson County through February 2025 were $3,040,000,000, a 0.5% increase from the same period in 2024.

Kearns used the county webpage memo packet to highlight the numbers and to recognize county employees who participated in area leadership classes. Commissioners asked no follow‑up questions during the business meeting; the item was informational and did not require board action.

The indicators presented are partial and cover different time spans (March for unemployment; year‑to‑date measures for housing; retail through February). Kearns noted the leadership class participation as a workforce and professional development highlight but did not link the CEWRI figures to any pending budget or policy action at the May 29 meeting.