Despite recent layoff announcements, Wichita is still predicting overall job growth in 2009

Wichita State University revised its 2009 jobs forecast downward, but it is still calling for job gains despite the national recession.

The Wichita area will add 1,650 jobs next year, according to the prediction released Monday by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at WSU.

The forecast calls for job growth across most sectors, with half of the new jobs coming in the aircraft industry.

The center predicted 6,000 new jobs at its outlook conference in early October.

Despite terrible economic news nationally, Wichita remains in pretty good shape, said center spokesman Stan Longhofer, a WSU economist.

Local developments such as the 1,800 layoffs announced at Boeing, Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft in recent weeks caused center economists to revisit their forecast.

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