Home » State releases county unemployment data for May 2018

State releases county unemployment data for May 2018

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 21, 2018) — Unemployment rates fell in 117 Kentucky counties between May 2017 and May 2018, rose in Owen and Spencer counties and remained the same in Oldham County, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 2.9 percent. It was followed by Campbell and Scott counties, 3.1 percent each; Boone and Fayette counties, 3.2 percent each; Allen, Kenton and Warren counties, 3.3 percent each; and Marion and Shelby counties, 3.4 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 12 percent. It was followed by Elliott County, 7.6 percent; Carter County, 7.4 percent; Harlan County, 7.3 percent; Lewis, Owsley and Wayne counties, 7.1 percent each; Leslie County, 7 percent; Ballard County, 6.9 percent; and Livingston County, 6.8 percent.

Kentucky’s county unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted because of small sample sizes. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events such as weather changes, harvests, holidays and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 4.2 percent for May 2018, and 3.6 percent for the nation.

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 data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.

Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at https://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI.