Revised from 4.9% in August
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2016) — Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate for September was 5 percent, from a revised 4.9 percent in August, according to the Office of Employment and Training (OET), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
The preliminary September jobless rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the 5.4 percent rate from September 2015.
The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for September was 5 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, are based on estimates from the Current Population Survey of households. It is designed to measure trends rather than to count the actual number of people working. It includes jobs in agriculture and those classified as self-employed.
In September Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 1,981,794, an increase of 12,605 individuals compared to the previous month. Employment was up by 10,571, and the number of unemployed increased by 2,034.
In a separate federal survey of business establishments that excludes jobs in agriculture and people who are self-employed, Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted non-farm employment increased by 11,500 jobs in September from the month before and was up 25,800 positions since September 2015.
Non-farm data is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics program. According to this survey, eight of Kentucky’s 11 major non-farm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) job sectors registered gains in employment, while two declined and one stayed the same from the previous month.
Employment in Kentucky’s professional and business services increased by nearly 3 percent with the addition of 6,200 jobs in September from a month ago. Year-over-year there was a gain of 6,000 jobs. This category includes establishments engaged in services that support the day-to-day activities of other organizations, including temporary employment services and payroll processing.
The leisure and hospitality sector gained 2,500 jobs in September from a month ago. Since September last year, the sector has expanded by nearly 2 percent with the addition of 3,500 jobs. This sector includes arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services.
Kentucky’s trade, transportation, and utilities sector expanded by 1,200 jobs in September from a month ago. This is the largest sector in Kentucky with nearly 400,000 jobs accounting for one-fifth of all non-farm employment. Since September 2015, this sector has expanded substantially with a gain of 9,300 jobs. Retail trade added 1,000 jobs over the previous month, and gained 7,600 jobs over the year, while transportation and warehousing added 700 jobs from a month ago and increased 2,400 positions over the year.
The manufacturing sector rose by 700 jobs in September compared to the previous month. Over the year, however, manufacturing employment declined by 1,300. Durable goods account for two-thirds of the manufacturing sector and grew by 1.5 percent from a year ago with the addition of 2,400 jobs, while nondurable goods lost 3,700 jobs over the year.
The government sector, which includes public education, public administration agencies and state-owned hospitals, increased by 600 jobs in September but declined by 2,100 positions compared to last September. Almost all of the month-to-month gain was in federal employment.
Employment in educational and health services sector was up by 500 positions in September, and had a robust gain of 10,600 jobs, or 4 percent, from a year ago. Health care jobs account for about 15 percent of all non-farm employment in Kentucky and decreased by 200 positions for the month, but showed strong gains over the year with the addition of 12,000 jobs.
The financial activities sector expanded by 300 jobs in September from a month ago. The sector has added 4,600 jobs since last September.
Mining and logging sector jobs increased by 100 in September from a month ago. The industry has declined by 2,300 positions from a year ago.
Employment in the information sector remained unchanged in September. This segment has declined by 900 positions from a year ago. The industries in this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing; motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications.
The construction sector dropped by 200 jobs in September from a month ago. Since September 2015, construction jobs have decreased by 1,800 positions.
Employment in the other services sector, which includes repairs and maintenance, personal care services, and religious organizations, decreased by 400 positions in September from a month ago. This sector has increased by 200 jobs from a year ago.
Civilian labor force statistics include nonmilitary 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.
Add Comment