Education Cabinet
Jobless rates down in 99 counties from February 2007 to February 2008

EDITORS NOTE: February’s preliminary and January’s revised county unemployment rate charts are posted at http://workforce.ky.gov/Feb08chart.pdf. Acrobat Reader is required to view charts. To download Acrobat Reader, please see the end of this news release.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Unemployment rates fell in 99 Kentucky counties between February 2007 and February 2008, rose in 18 counties and remained the same in three counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Education Cabinet.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 4.3 percent. Other counties with low unemployment rates were Fayette County, 4.5 percent; Warren County, 4.8 percent; Oldham County, 4.9 percent; Boone County, 5 percent; Madison and Scott counties, 5.1 percent each; Jessamine and Shelby counties, 5.2 percent each; and Campbell County, 5.3 percent.

Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 12.1 percent. It was followed by Menifee County, 11.6 percent; Magoffin County, 11.5 percent; Morgan County, 11.3 percent; Clay County, 11.1 percent; Wolfe County, 10.9 percent; Bath County, 10.3 percent; Grayson and Lewis counties, 10.2 percent each; and Lawrence County, 9.6 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 county figures.

Learn more about the Office of Employment and Training at www.workforce.ky.gov.

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