University economists reduce forecast for layoffs in Wichita area next year

University predicting fewer layoffs in Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State University is slashing the number of layoffs it is forecasting in the region for 2010.

University economists now predict the Wichita area will lose 1,650 jobs next year.

That’s less than half the 3,550 job losses that the university’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research originally predicted during its annual meeting in October.

Center director Jeremy Hill says the difference is that the national economy seems to be snapping back more quickly than expected.