Unemployment rates increase in Knox, Laurel, Whitley counties

Unemployment rates increased in Whitley, Laurel, Knox, Bell and McCreary counties between November 2021 and December 2021, 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 increased from 3.0 percent in November 2021 to 3.5 percent in December 2021. Whitley County’s December 2021 unemployment rate was 2.5 percent lower than the December 2020 unemployment rate.

Laurel County

Laurel County’s unemployment rate increased from 2.8 percent in November 2021 to 3.2 percent in December 2021. Laurel County’s December 2021 unemployment rate was 2.2 percent lower than the December 2020 unemployment rate.

Knox County

Knox County’s unemployment rate increased from 4.0 percent in November 2021 to 4.4 percent in December 2021. Knox County’s December 2021 unemployment rate was 2.6 percent lower than the December 2020 unemployment rate.

Bell County

Bell County’s unemployment rate increased from 3.6 percent in November 2021 to 4.2 percent in December 2021. Bell County’s December 2021 unemployment rate was 2.2 percent lower than the December 2020 unemployment rate.

McCreary County

McCreary County’s unemployment rate increased from 3.3 percent in November 2021 to 3.7 percent in December 2021. McCreary County’s December 2021 unemployment rate was 2.7 percent lower than the December 2020 unemployment rate.

Statewide unemployment

Kentucky’s unemployment rate increased from 3.0 percent in November 2021 to 3.4 percent in December 2021. Kentucky’s December 2021 unemployment rate was 2.0 percent lower than the December 2020 rate.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 2.3 percent. It was followed by Oldham County 2.4 percent; Scott County, 2.5 percent; Boone and Fayette counties, 2.6 percent; and Harrison, Jessamine, Logan, Taylor and Todd counties, 2.7 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 10.3 percent. It was followed by Breathitt County, 8 percent; Elliott County, 7.8 percent; Martin County, 7 percent; Carter County, 6.7 percent; Harlan County, 6.5 percent; Lewis County, 6.2 percent; Leslie County, 6 percent; Floyd County, 5.9 percent; and Letcher County, 5.8 percent.

Unemployment rates fell in 119 counties between December 2020 and December 2021 and remained at 8 percent in Breathitt County, according to KYSTATS.

The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 3.4 percent for December 2021, and 3.7 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 13,843 people with 13,359 employed and 484 unemployed. Statewide, Kentucky has a civilian labor force of 2,014,005 people with 1,946,282 employed and 67,723 unemployed.

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