Topeka ? Forty-three people were laid off Thursday from the state agency that handles unemployment benefits.

Kansas Department of Labor officials said the layoffs were necessary after federal aid to Kansas for the jobless was cut because of fewer people looking for work in the state.

Kansas’ unemployment rate for August was 4.6 percent, down from 5.2 percent in August 2003.

The terminated positions represent about 6.5 percent of the work force in the 650-employee agency.

Labor Secretary Jim Garner said the Labor Department expected to receive $17.5 million in unemployment administration funds, $1.7 million less than the funding amount in the current fiscal year.

The layoffs will be effective Nov. 15 and include 25 full-time positions and 18 temporary positions, the Labor Department said. Thirty-five of the positions are in Topeka, and the remainder around the state.

Beth Martino, a spokeswoman for the Labor Department, said the laid-off employees came from the unemployment division, information and technology division and support services.

“Each division had to cut their budget by 10 percent, so that’s a pretty substantial cut,” she said.

Earlier this month, the Labor Department announced reductions in hours for 65 employees in agency call centers.