FRANKFORT, Ky. — Unemployment rates fell in 119 counties between June 2021 and June 2022 and remained the same in Robertson County, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.
Oldham County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 3.1%. It was followed by Cumberland County, 3.2%; Scott, Spencer and Woodford counties, 3.3% each; Boone and Shelby counties, 3.4% each; and Anderson, Fayette, Henry and Washington counties, 3.5% each.
Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 12.1%. It was followed by Elliott County, 9.3%; Breathitt County, 9.1%; Martin County, 8.8%; Carter County, 8.2%; Leslie County, 8.1%; Owsley County, 7.9%; Harlan County, 7.7%; Lewis County, 7.6%; and Knott County, 7.2%.
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% for June 2022, and 3.8% 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.
Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,064,102 in June 2022, a decrease of 726 individuals from May 2022. The number of people employed in June increased by 1,085 to 1,986,909 while the number of unemployed decreased by 1,811 to 77,193, according to last week’s report that announced the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
In a separate federal survey of business establishments that excludes jobs in agriculture and people who are self-employed, Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment jumped by 10,000 jobs in June 2022 compared to May 2022. Kentucky’s nonfarm employment was up 57,900 jobs or 3.1% compared to June 2021.
Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at https://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI.
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