FRANKFORT, Ky. – Unemployment rates fell in 109 Kentucky counties between January 2013 and January 2014, while 11 county rates went up, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
Fayette County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 6.3 percent. It was followed by Boone and Oldham counties, 6.4 percent each; Woodford County, 6.5 percent; Scott County, 6.6 percent; Madison and Simpson counties, 6.7 percent each; Shelby County, 6.8 percent, Daviess County, 6.9 percent; and Franklin, Union and Warren counties, 7.0 percent each.
Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 18.5 percent. It was followed by Magoffin County, 18.3 percent; Leslie County, 17.7 percent; Harlan County, 17.0 percent; Letcher County, 16.0 percent; Knott County, 15.3 percent; Menifee County, 15.2 percent; Bell County, 14.8 percent; and Lewis and McCreary counties, 14.5 percent each.
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.
