EDITORS NOTE: March county unemployment rate charts are posted at http://workforce.ky.gov/Mar05charts.pdf. Acrobat Reader is required to view charts.

Unemployment rates fell in 95 Kentucky counties between March 2004 and March 2005, rose in 21 counties and stayed the same in four counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training in the Education Cabinet. 

In March 2005, five counties had jobless rates at or above 10 percent, and nine counties recorded double-digit rates in March 2004.

Woodford and Oldham counties’ 4 percent jobless rates were the lowest in the commonwealth. Other low rates were recorded in Shelby County, 4.1 percent; Boone, Fayette and Jessamine counties, 4.4 percent each; Spencer County, 4.6 percent; and Anderson, Franklin and Warren counties, 4.7 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 13.1 percent. It was followed by Wolfe County, 10.8 percent; Elliott and Morgan counties, 10.4 percent each; Nicholas County, 10 percent; Lewis County, 9.8 percent; Graves County, 9.7 percent; Menifee County, 9.3 percent; McCreary County 8.9 percent; and Carter County, 8.8 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.