FRANKFORT, Ky. – Unemployment rates fell in 100 Kentucky counties between April 2013 and April 2014, while 14 county rates went up and six counties stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
Boone County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.1 percent. It was followed by Kenton and Shelby counties, 5.5 percent; Campbell, Gallatin and Oldham counties, 5.6 percent; Woodford County, 5.7 percent; Caldwell and Warren counties, 5.9 percent each; and Fayette, Grant, Henderson, Logan, Scott and Simpson counties, 6 percent each.
Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 17.4 percent. It was followed by Harlan and Magoffin counties, 14.9 percent each; Leslie County, 14.7 percent; Letcher County, 13.7 percent; Bell and Knott counties, 13.1 percent each; Menifee County, 12.5 percent; McCreary County, 12.2 percent; and Clay County, 11.9 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.