Unemployment rates drop in Whitley, Knox and Laurel counties

Unemployment rates decreased in Whitley, Laurel, Knox, Bell and McCreary counties between December 2022 and December 2022, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Whitley County

Whitley County’s unemployment rate decreased from 4.2 percent in November 2022 to 3.7 percent in December 2022. Whitley County’s December 2022 unemployment rate was 0.2 percent lower than the December 2021 unemployment rate.

Laurel County

Laurel County’s unemployment decreased from 4.1 percent in November 2022 to 3.7 in December 2022. Laurel County’s December 2022 unemployment rate was the same as the December 2021 unemployment rate.

Knox County

Knox County’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.4 percent in November 2022 to 4.9 percent in December 2022. Knox County’s December 2022 unemployment rate was 0.1 percent lower than the December 2021 unemployment rate.

Bell County

Bell County’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.0 percent in November 2022 to 4.8 percent in December 2022. Bell County’s December 2022 unemployment rate was the same as the December 2021 unemployment rate.

McCreary County

McCreary County’s unemployment rate decreased from 4.9 percent in November 2022 to 4.5 percent in December 2022. McCreary County’s December 2022 unemployment rate was the same as the December 2021 unemployment rate.

Statewide unemployment

Kentucky’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.8 percent in November 2022 to 3.4 percent in December 2022. Kentucky’s December 2022 unemployment rate was 0.5 percent lower than the December 2021 rate.

Oldham and Woodford counties recorded the lowest jobless rates in the commonwealth at 2.4 percent. They were followed by Anderson, Fayette, Henry, Scott, Shelby and Spencer counties, 2.6 percent each; and Carlisle, Carroll, Harrison and Jessamine counties, 2.7 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 9.3 percent. It was followed by Elliott County, 8.8 percent; Carter County, 7.5 percent; Lewis County, 7.4 percent; Martin County, 6.9 percent; Breathitt County, 6.6 percent; Leslie and Owsley counties, 6.5 percent each; Greenup County, 6.2 percent; and Johnson, Letcher and Wolfe counties, 6 percent each.

Unemployment rates fell in 94 counties between December 2021 and December 2022, rose in 12, and stayed the same in 14 counties, according to the KYSTATS.

Kentucky’s county unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted because of small sample sizes.

The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 3.4 percent for December 2022, and 3.3 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.

Whitley County has a civilian labor force of 14,044 people with 13,529 employed and 515 unemployed. Statewide, Kentucky has a civilian labor force of 2,039,805 people with 1,971,401 employed and 68,404 unemployed.

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