Unemployment rate remains unchanged in Whitley County

Unemployment rates fell in 64 Kentucky counties between June 2015 and June 2016, including Knox County, rose in 49 counties, including Laurel County, and remained the same in seven (Fleming, Henderson, Morgan, Simpson, Trigg, Trimble and Whitley), according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Whitley County’s unemployment rate stayed at 7.2 percent in both June 2015 June 2016. This was a 0.7 percent increase from the May’s rate. Whitley County tied Fulton and Livingston counties with the 37th highest June unemployment rate in Kentucky.

Knox County’s unemployment rate fell from 8.5 percent in June 2015 to 8.3 percent in June 2016. Knox County tied Boyd County for 24th highest June unemployment rate in Kentucky. Knox County’s June unemployment rate was 0.7 percent higher than May’s unemployment rate.

Laurel County’s unemployment rate increased slightly from 6.4 percent in June 2015 to 6.5 percent in June 2016. Laurel County tied Fleming and Lincoln counties with the 47th highest June unemployment rate in Kentucky. Laurel County’s June unemployment rate was 0.5 percent higher than May’s unemployment rate.

Among other neighboring counties, Bell County had the 21st highest June unemployment rate with 9.4 percent. McCreary County tied Wayne and Jackson counties with the 27th highest June unemployment rate in the state with 8.0 percent.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 3.6 percent. It was followed by Oldham County, 3.7 percent; Shelby County, 3.8 percent; Fayette and Spencer counties, 3.9 percent each; Anderson and Campbell counties, 4.1 percent each; Anderson and Campbell counties, 4.1 percent each; and Boone, Henry and Scott counties, 4.2 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 16.8 percent. It was followed by Leslie County, 13.7 percent; Harlan County, 12.6 percent; Letcher County, 12 percent; Elliott County, 11.9 percent; Pike County, 11.6 percent; Floyd County, 11.4 percent; Knott County, 11.3 percent; Wolfe County; 11.2 percent; and Clay County, 11.1 percent.

In contrast to the monthly national and state data, unemployment statistics for counties are not seasonally adjusted.

The comparable, unadjusted state unemployment rate declined from 5.5 percent in June 2015 to 5.4 percent in June 2016, which is 0.4 percent higher than May’s rate.

Nationally, the unemployment rate is 5.1 percent.

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 story are not seasonally adjusted because of the small sample size for each county.

Whitley County has a civilian labor force of 13,190 people with 12,235 employed and 955 unemployed. Statewide, Kentucky has a civilian labor force of 2,001,878 people with 1,893,060 employed and 108,818 unemployed.

Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at www.kylmi.ky.gov.