photo by: Courtesy: Institute for Policy & Social Research, University of Kansas

It is already clear that the math on the job loss front is going to get pretty painful as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. But researchers at the University of Kansas have done some calculations that show that the pain may be higher in Douglas County than in many parts of the state.

Using unemployment data from just the last three weeks, researchers at KU’s Institute for Policy and Social Research are estimating that Douglas County’s unemployment rate is already at 9.4%. That’s the fifth-highest estimated unemployment rate in the state out of the 105 counties in Kansas. It is the second-highest estimated unemployment rate among the state’s urban counties. Only Sedgwick County, home to a hammered aviation industry, is higher.

To put the Douglas County number into further perspective, the county has not had an unemployment rate above 6.6% for at least 30 years. I quickly found unemployment statistics back to 1990, and the highest unemployment reached in any given month was 6.6% in July 2010, according to figures kept by the Federal Reserve. I’m fairly certain Douglas County did experience higher unemployment numbers in the 1980s, but couldn’t quickly find that data. Saying we are not as bad as the early 1980s is little comfort. In talking with longtime business people in Lawrence, they have told me those were some of the toughest times for local businesses.

If these KU projections are accurate, they are quite a change to what Douglas County has come to expect. Normally, the mantra in Douglas County is our highs are never as high as others and our lows are never as low. But, normally, Lawrence can always count on upwards of 20,000 students roaming around the Lawrence campus. That, of course, is what has changed.

KU employees haven’t necessarily caused the unemployment rolls to swell, as the university is continuing to teach classes online and pay most employees. Rather, it is the private businesses that serve the students that must be pushing unemployment totals to new highs.

Interestingly, the state’s other major university county — Riley County, home to Kansas State — has a projected unemployment rate of 6.5%. These projections are good reminders of how dependent Douglas County has become on the education sector. Unlike Riley County, we don’t have a military base nearby, or some other big employer, to diversify our economy.

But, at least we’re not living on the fortunes of the aviation industry. The numbers continue to show how reliant Wichita is on that cyclical industry. Unemployment in Sedgwick County is already projected at 14%. Its neighboring counties of Sumner and Butler have the second- and third-highest rates at 11.3% and 11% respectively.

You can see the full map above, but here’s a look at Douglas County and its neighbors:

• Douglas County: 9.4%

• Shawnee County: 9.2%

• Osage County: 7.1%

• Franklin County: 6.7%

• Jefferson County: 6.7%

• Johnson County: 6.6%

• Leavenworth County: 6.5%

We will get another batch of official unemployment numbers later today or Wednesday. The state is scheduled on Friday to release an official March unemployment rate for each county.

In other news and notes from around town:

• It is hard to believe that a couple of months ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about eating my dozen convenience store doughnuts while actually standing at the gas pump with the nozzle in my free hand. Now, I’ve gotten to the point of wishing I had a thicker glove to grab the gas pump handle with.

I must not be alone in having that thought, as one convenience store chain is launching the option of having an employee pump your gas for you.

Hy-Vee announced today that it is launching a new “full-service” fueling option at its 165 convenience store locations. The grocer has two convenience store locations in Lawrence, one near Sixth Street and Monterey Way and another near Clinton Parkway and Crossgate Drive.

In a press release, the company said select fuel pumps will be available for the full-service option from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Customers can push the help button on the pump, and an employee will come to your vehicle to fuel it and take your payment. The employee also can bring you items from the store, if you so desire.

Before this pandemic, the idea of a full-service gas station was nearly dead. As we have reported, the Westside 66 gas station had carved out a niche as a full-service gas station — it still does the oil and fluid checks and such — but all other gas stations had gotten out of that business.

Already we’ve seen the pandemic bring back some old trends. Who knew so many people were so skilled at baking and sewing? (Although, I did forget to put eyeholes in my face mask, which made it very messy when I frosted my cake.) Maybe a return to full service gas stations will be the next old thing to be new again.