Unemployment rate drops locally, statewide

Unemployment rates fell in 119 Kentucky counties and rose in one county (Carter County) between January 2017 and January 2018, according to the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics (KCEWS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Whitley County’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.9 percent in January 2017 to 4.8 percent in January 2018. Whitley County’s January unemployment rate was 0.2 percent higher than December’s unemployment rate.

Laurel County’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.9 percent in January 2017 to 4.9 percent in January 2018. Laurel County’s January unemployment rate was 0.3 percent higher than December’s unemployment rate.

Knox County’s unemployment rate decreased from 8.7 percent in January 2017 to 6.3 percent in January 2018. Knox County’s January unemployment rate was 0.3 percent higher than December’s unemployment rate.

Bell County’s unemployment rate decreased from 9.7 percent in January 2017 to 6.3 percent in January 2018. Bell County’s January unemployment rate was 0.2 percent higher than December’s unemployment rate.

McCreary County’s unemployment rate decreased from 8.5 percent in January 2017 to 5.9 percent in January 2018. McCreary County’s January unemployment rate was 0.4 percent higher than December’s rate.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 2.9 percent. It was followed by Fayette County, 3 percent; Oldham County, 3.1 percent; Marion and Scott counties, 3.2 percent each; Campbell and Shelby counties, 3.3 percent each; and Allen, Jessamine and Monroe counties, 3.4 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 15.2 percent. It was followed by Carter County, 13 percent; Elliott County, 11.5 percent; Lewis County, 10.4 percent; Menifee County, 9.8 percent; Bath County, 8.6 percent; Lawrence County, 8.4 percent; Wolfe County, 8.1 percent; Greenup County, 7.9 percent; and Morgan County, 7.7 percent.

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 4.3 percent for January 2018, and 4.5 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 13,587 people with 12,931 employed and 656 unemployed. Statewide, Kentucky has a civilian labor force of 2,024,976 people with 1,938,344 employed and 86,632 unemployed.

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