Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
Annual jobless rates up in 110 Kentucky counties in 2008 compared to 2007

EDITOR'S NOTE: 2008 county unemployment rate charts are posted at http://workforce.ky.gov/Ann2008chart.pdf. Acrobat Reader is required to view charts. To download Acrobat Reader, please see the end of this news release.

FRANKFORT, Ky.  — Annual unemployment rates were higher in 110 Kentucky counties in 2008 than in 2007, while 10 counties were lower, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training in the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

In 2008, five Kentucky counties had an annual jobless rate at or above 10 percent compared to three counties that recorded double-digit rates in 2007.

Woodford and Fayette counties’ 4.8 percent annual jobless rates were the lowest in the commonwealth in 2008. They were followed by Warren County, 5.4 percent; Boone, Madison, Jessamine and Scott counties, 5.5 percent each; Oldham County, 5.6 percent; Daviess County, 5.7 percent; and Bourbon, Franklin, McCracken and Shelby counties, 5.8 percent each.

Jackson County recorded the state’s highest annual unemployment rate in 2008 — 11.4 percent. It was followed by Magoffin County, 11 percent; Clay County, 10.3 percent; Grayson County, 10.1 percent; Wolfe County, 10 percent; Morgan and Menifee counties, 9.8 percent each; McCreary County, 9.6 percent; Lewis County, 9.4 percent; and Bell County, 9.1 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 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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