Unemployment rates fell in 112 Kentucky counties between August 2014 and August 2015, rose in six counties and remained the same in two counties (Lawrence and Lee), according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 3.3 percent. It was followed by Fayette and Owen counties, 3.5 percent each; Oldham and Spencer counties, 3.6 percent each; Boone, Scott and Shelby counties, 3.7 percent each; and Campbell, Jessamine, Madison and Monroe counties, 3.9 percent each.
Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 14.1 percent. It was followed by Russell County, 11.2 percent; Owsley County, 11.1 percent; Harlan County, 10.9 percent; Leslie County, 10.2 percent; Letcher County, 10.1 percent; Carter County, 9.5 percent; Knott County, 9.2 percent; Clay County, 9.1 percent; and Wolfe County, 9 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 news release are not seasonally adjusted because of the small sample size for each county. The data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.
From the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet