EDITORS NOTE: 2004 county unemployment rate charts are posted at http://workforce.ky.gov/Ann04chart.pdf. Acrobat Reader is required to view charts. To download Acrobat Reader go to http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Seventy-four Kentucky counties posted higher annual unemployment rates in 2004 than the state’s 2004 annual average of 5.3 percent, while 41 counties were below the state annual jobless level and five were the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training in the Education Cabinet. 

In 2004, only Magoffin County had a jobless rate at or above 10 percent. Compared to the national 2004 average of 5.5 percent, 66 Kentucky counties reported higher average annual rates, 50 counties had lower average annual rates and four were the same as the national average rate for 2003. The state annual unemployment rate decreased from 6.2 percent in 2003 to 5.3 percent in 2004.

Oldham County’s 3.5 percent jobless rate was the lowest in the commonwealth. Other low rates were recorded in Woodford County, 3.6 percent; Fayette, Shelby and Spencer counties, 4 percent each; Anderson and Franklin counties, 4.1 percent each; Boone and Jessamine counties, 4.2 percent each; and Scott, Todd and Warren counties, 4.3 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 12.7 percent. It was followed by Elliott County, 9.9 percent; Wolfe County, 9.8 percent; Fulton County, 9.3 percent; Hickman County, 8.7 percent; Morgan County, 8.6 percent; Leslie County, 8.5 percent; Carter County, 8.4 percent; Lewis County, 8.3 percent; and Powell County, 8.2 percent.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics has incorporated 2000 census information in the way it estimates the level of employment and unemployment in each county. As a result, there will be revisions to statistical programs such as the monthly and annual unemployment rates, and employment and unemployment levels for Kentucky and its counties from January 2000 forward. Therefore, the numbers from this release are not comparable to LAUS Program data released in previous years. The 2000-2004 estimates are being revised as the federal government incorporates the 2000 census information. At that time, there will five years of comparable data available. Estimates in all U.S. counties are undergoing the same updates.

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 to allow for comparisons between United States, state and counties figures. Learn more about the Office of Employment and Training at www.workforce.ky.gov.

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