Unemployment rates rose in 109 Kentucky counties between December 2014 and December 2015, fell in six counties and remained the same in five, 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 3.5 percent. It was followed by Oldham County, 3.8 percent; Fayette and Spencer counties, 3.9 percent each; Shelby County, 4.1 percent; and Boone, Campbell, Jessamine, Madison, Scott and Warren counties, 4.3 percent each.
Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 15.5 percent. It was followed by Wolfe County, 12.4 percent; Elliott and Letcher counties, 11.8 percent each; Harlan County, 11.6 percent; Leslie County, 11.2 percent; Owsley County, 11 percent; Lawrence County, 10.8 percent; and Knott and Pike counties, 10.6 percent each.
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.
(story provided by Education Cabinet for Kentucky)
