FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary July 2023 unemployment rate was 3.8%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency within the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet (KELC).
July 2023 Ky. Unemployment Rate ChartJuly 2023 Ky. Employment Chart
The preliminary July 2023 jobless rate was unchanged from June 2023 and was down 0.1 percentage points from one year ago.
The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for July 2023 was 3.5%, down 0.1 percentage points from June 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, are based upon estimates from the Current Population Survey of households. The survey is designed to measure trends in the number of people working and includes jobs in agriculture and self-employed individuals.
Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,052,595 in July 2023, a decrease of 1,990 individuals from June 2023. The number of people employed in July fell by 3,535 to 1,973,616, while the number of unemployed increased by 1,545 to 78,979.
In a separate federal survey of business establishments that excludes agricultural jobs and self-employed people, Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 400 jobs to 2,013,500 in July 2023 compared to June 2023. Kentucky’s nonfarm employment was up 50,200 jobs or 2.6% compared to July 2022.
Nonfarm data is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics program. According to the survey, employment increased for five of Kentucky’s major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) job sectors in July 2023, decreased for four, and was unchanged for two.
The educational and health services sector jumped by 4,200 positions in July 2023. Employment in the health care and social assistance subsector added 3,700 jobs in July, while the educational services subsector rose by 500 jobs. Since last July, this sector has grown by 14,500 jobs or 5%.
Kentucky’s manufacturing sector gained 2,800 jobs from June 2023 to July 2023. Durable goods manufacturing employment was up 2,200 jobs in July. Employment in nondurable goods manufacturers increased by 600 jobs. Kentucky’s manufacturing employment was up 9,000 positions or 3.5% since July 2022.
The leisure and hospitality sector added 1,400 positions from June 2023 to July 2023, representing a gain of 0.7%. This sector reported 4,000 more jobs in July than one year ago. Employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation subsector did not change from June to July. The accommodations and food services subsector added 1,400 jobs in July.
Construction employment increased by 500 jobs or 0.6% from June to July 2023 and was up 6,000 positions or 7.2% from one year ago.
The other services sector reported 300 more jobs in July than in June. This sector had 1,600 more positions in July 2023 compared to July 2022. This sector includes repairs and maintenance, personal care services and religious organizations.
The number of jobs in the state’s mining and logging sector did not change from June to July. This sector had 400 more jobs compared to July 2022.
Employment in Kentucky’s information services sector was unchanged from June to July. The industries in this sector include traditional publishing, software publishing; motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications. The number of jobs in this sector grew by 700 or 3.2% from one year ago.
Employment in the trade, transportation and utilities sector fell by 400 from June to July but was up 7,000 jobs or 1.7% compared to a year ago. The wholesale trade subsector added 600 jobs in July, but these gains were offset by a loss of 1,000 jobs in the retail subsector. Employment in the transportation, warehousing and utilities subsector did not change from June to July.
Employment in the financial activities sector fell by 900 jobs from June 2023 to July 2023. Employment was down by 600 jobs in the finance and insurance subsector from June to July and down 300 jobs in the real estate, rental and leasing subsector. The sector decreased by 3,700 positions compared to last July.
Kentucky’s professional and business services sector contracted 1,800 jobs, or 0.8%, in July 2023. Employment decreased by 700 jobs in the professional, scientific and technical services subsector. The administrative, support and waste management subsector lost 1,100 jobs. Employment in the management of companies subsector was unchanged from June to July. The sector has increased by 2,400 jobs or 1% since July 2022.
Employment in the government sector fell by 6,500 from June 2023 to July 2023. Employment increased by 200 in the federal government, was unchanged in state government, and decreased by 6,700 jobs in local government. Employment in the total government sector rose by 8,300 positions or 2.8% compared to July 2022.
Civilian labor force statistics include nonmilitary workers and unemployed Kentuckians actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not sought employment within the past four weeks.
Kentucky’s statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. 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. However, due to the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
