Unemployment rate remains steady in Whitley, Knox counties

Unemployment rates stayed the same in Whitley and Knox counties, decreased in Laurel and Bell counties, and increased in McCreary County between November 2023 and December 2023, 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 remained at 4.4 percent between November 2023 and December 2023. Whitley County’s December 2023 unemployment rate was 0.8 percent higher than the December 2022 unemployment rate.

Laurel County

Laurel County’s unemployment decreased from 4.2 percent in November 2023 to 4.1 percent in December 2023. Laurel County’s December 2023 unemployment rate was 0.5 percent higher than the December 2022 unemployment rate.

Knox County

Knox County’s unemployment rate remained at 5.4 percent between November 2023 and December 2023. Knox County’s December 2023 unemployment rate was 0.7 percent higher than the December 2022 unemployment rate.

Bell County

Bell County’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.5 percent in November 2023 to 5.3 percent in December 2023. Bell County’s December 2023 unemployment rate was 0.7 percent higher than the December 2022 unemployment rate.

McCreary County

McCreary County’s unemployment rate increased from 5.2 percent in November 2023 to 5.4 percent in December 2023. McCreary County’s December 2023 unemployment rate was 0.9 percent higher than the December 2022 unemployment rate.

Statewide unemployment

Kentucky’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.9 percent in November 2023 to 3.8 percent in December 2023. Kentucky’s December 2023 unemployment rate was 0.5 percent higher than the December 2022 unemployment rate.

Unemployment rates rose in 115 counties between December 2022 and December 2023, fell in Marshall, Trigg and Wolfe counties, and remained the same in Caldwell and Letcher counties, according to KYSTATS.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 2.8 percent. It was followed by Caldwell, Marion and Washington counties, 3 percent each; Anderson, Carroll, Fayette, Scott and Shelby counties, 3.1 percent each; and Bourbon, Cumberland, Jessamine, Nelson and Oldham counties, 3.2 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 9 percent. It was followed by Elliott and Martin counties, 8,2 percent each; Lewis County, 8 percent; Carter County, 7.2 percent; Breathitt County, 7.1 percent; Owsley County, 6.6 percent; Leslie County, 6.4 percent; and Greenup and Johnson counties, 6.3 percent each.

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 3.8 percent for December 2023, and 3.5 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 14,158 people with 13,539 employed and 619 unemployed. Statewide, Kentucky has a civilian labor force of 2,019,568 people with 1,942,066 employed and 77,502 unemployed.

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