FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 26, 2016) – Unemployment rates fell in 83 Kentucky counties between April 2015 and April 2016, rose in 33 counties, and remained the same in four (Breathitt, Mason, Metcalfe and Owen), according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
April’s preliminary and March’s county unemployment rate charts (PDF)
Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 2.9 percent. It was followed by Oldham County, 3.2 percent; Fayette County, 3.3 percent; Shelby and Spencer counties, 3.4 percent each; Boone, Campbell and Scott counties, 3.5 percent each; and Anderson, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Owen and Warren counties, 3.7 percent each.
Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 15.8 percent. It was followed by Leslie County, 11.6 percent; Harlan County, 10.9 percent; Letcher County, 10.7 percent; Floyd County, 10.5 percent; Pike County, 10 percent; Knott County, 9.9 percent; Clay County, 9.7 percent; Owsley County, 9.6 percent; and Perry County, 9.5 percent.
In contrast to the monthly national and state data, unemployment statistics for counties are not seasonally adjusted. The comparable, unadjusted state unemployment rate for the state was 4.6 percent for April 2016, and 4.7 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 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.
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