By: The Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC) | 7.25.25
Economic data for Pottawatomie County in the second quarter generally fell within expected ranges, but did show slight downturns compared to the same time period in 2024. Sales and use tax totals over the second quarter lagged slightly (although year-to-date totals for 2025 still outweigh 2024), and monthly home sales are still slightly behind those of last year. However, these downturns have been generally small, and the county labor force has remained strong at over 13,600 total individuals working or looking for work.
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Pottawatomie County Employment & Workforce
Labor force totals generally fluctuate, but have remained strong for Pottawatomie and Riley counties in 2025. While the numbers for April, May, and June 2025 were close to those of last 2024, both Riley and Pottawatomie counties are reported by the Kansas Department of Labor Information Center to have experienced a slight year-over-year increase for each of these months.
Unemployment rates for both counties stayed below the state (non seasonally-adjusted) monthly averages during the past quarter, indicating that employment remains strong in the area. The Kansas state average for June was 4.1% unemployment, while Riley county was reported at 3.9% and Pottawatomie County at 3.7%.
Pottawatomie County Sales Tax and Retail Sales Data
Although sales and use tax collections year-to-date exceed those of 2024, Pottawatomie County did see a dip in quarter-two specific collections, with 2024 Q2 totals exceeding the 2025 Q2 total by over $16,000. In perspective of the first half of the year, however, this dip is minimal; the year-to-date total for 2025 is now at $511,325, exceeding the 2024 January-June total of $477,362 by $33,964.
Pottawatomie County Housing Trends
Pottawatomie county’s year-to-date home sales are trailing those of 2024 by around -9.5% – however, the quarter did reflect an increase in home sales over the prior quarter, with Q2 home closings totalling at 85, and Q1 at just 38. This change is positive, but expected, as spring and summer months have historically been the most active for home sales.
The Wamego Housing Assessment, Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation conducted via the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Housing Assessment Tool, recently highlighted housing related opportunities and difficulties for the city of Wamego. The report validates local population growth and a strong demand for housing, but also highlights housing-related pinpoints, including a critical need for attainable workforce housing, a lack of senior-friendly housing options, cosmetic upgrade needs of aging housing stock, and cost barriers for builders to take on new housing projects. Although this assessment was conducted for Wamego specifically, the findings may also be relevant to other parts of the county facing the same challenges and/or that may be able to provide alternative housing options.
National & Global Concerns
Affordable Housing Trends in the US
The challenges Pottawatomie county faces in order to provide enough attainable housing aren’t unique – the costs of housing, both rented and owned, are being discussed more and more, not just as a consumer concern, but also as an economic development issue. According to a recent article by USA Facts, around 41.8 million, or 32.8% of American households spent “too much” or over 30% of their total incomes, on housing in 2023. This means that nearly one-third of households may be struggling to afford necessity costs, let alone upgraded belongings, recreational activities, entertainment, and other goods/services, impacting the economy on a larger scale.
Interestingly, USA Facts noted in a related/linked article that renters make up a higher percentage of those overly cost-burdened by housing, as of 2023. While this naturally gives a nod to the decreasing affordability of rental properties, it also does reflect the demographics and incomes of renting households.
