FRANKFORT, Ky. – Unemployment rates rose in 96 Kentucky counties between November 2012 and November 2013, while 16 county rates decreased and eight stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.9 percent. It was followed by Daviess and Fayette counties, 6.1 percent each; Scott County, 6.2 percent; Boone County, 6.3 percent; Caldwell, Oldham and Warren counties, 6.4 percent each; and Jessamine, Madison, Ohio, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer and Union counties, 6.5 percent each.
Leslie County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.4 percent. It was followed by Magoffin County, 15.8 percent; Harlan County, 15.6 percent; Letcher County, 15 percent; Knott County, 14 percent; Bell and McCreary counties, 13.6 percent each; Jackson and Perry counties, 12.8 percent each; and Clay County, 12.2 percent.
Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted because of the small sample size for each county. The data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.
Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at www.kylmi.ky.gov.
