County unemployment rates released for December 2012 to December 2013

Woodford maintains lowest jobless rate, 5.5 percent

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 30, 2014) – Unemployment rates fell in 98 Kentucky counties between December 2012 and December 2013, while 14 county rates increased and eight stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Woodford County recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the commonwealth at 5.5 percent. It was followed Fayette County, 5.6 percent; Scott County, 5.7 percent; Daviess County, 5.8 percent; Oldham County, 5.9 percent; Boone, Shelby, Union and Warren counties, 6 percent each; and Caldwell, Franklin, Madison, Simpson and Spencer counties, 6.1 percent each.

Leslie County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 15.7 percent. It was followed by Magoffin County, 15.6 percent; Harlan County, 15.1 percent; Letcher County, 14.6 percent; Knott County, 13.7 percent; Bell County, 13.1 percent; McCreary County, 12.9 percent; Jackson County, 12.8 percent; and Perry and Wolfe counties, 12.2 percent each.

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 kylmi.ky.gov.