Education Cabinet
Kentucky’s jobless rate goes up in October

Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to a preliminary 6 percent in October 2005 from the September 2005 rate of 5.7 percent, according to the Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Education Cabinet. October’s rate was above October 2004’s rate of 4.8 percent.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate went fell from 5.1 percent in September 2005 to 5 percent in October 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Kentucky was one of nine states that reported higher unemployment rates in October 2005 as compared to October 2004.

“Kentucky was one of 21 states plus the District of Columbia that reported an unemployment rate above the U.S. jobless rate in October 2005,” said Carlos Cracraft, the department's chief labor market analyst.

“This year we’ve seen some unusual movements in Kentucky’s labor force. While the unemployment rate has increased in eight of the first 10 months of 2005, we’ve also seen the number of people employed increase in seven of those 10 months. As a result, Kentucky’s labor force broke the 2,000,000 mark for the first time ever in September and October,” Cracraft said.

“In addition, the number of people in Kentucky filing unemployment insurance claims has declined from an average of 35,500 per week during 2004 to an average of approximately 31,700 per week during 2005 to date.”

Four of the 10 major nonfarm job North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) sectors had employment increases in October, while five decreased and the remaining one stayed the same, Cracraft said. A drop of 400 workers brought Kentucky’s nonfarm employment to a seasonally adjusted total of 1,822,500 in October 2005.

According to the seasonally adjusted employment data, the professional and business services sector reported 900 more jobs in October 2005 than in September 2005. This sector recorded 4,500 more employees in October 2005 than October 2004.

The state’s construction sector rose by 300 jobs in October 2005. Since October 2004, employment in this sector has risen by 3,600.

Kentucky’s manufacturing sector gained 300 jobs in October 2005. Compared to October 2004, the sector had 300 more employees in October 2005.

The educational and health services sector reported 100 more jobs in October 2005 than in September 2005. Since October 2004, the sector has jumped by 4,200 jobs.

Kentucky’s trade, transportation and utilities sector recorded the same employment in September 2005 and October 2005. This sector includes retail and wholesale trade, transportation and utilities businesses, and warehousing, and is the largest sector in Kentucky with 376,100 employees. Since October 2004, the number of jobs in this sector has jumped by 3,000.  

“Most of the over-the-year gain in the trade, transportation and utilities sector was in the transportation and warehousing industries,” Cracraft said.

On the negative side, the government sector, which includes public education had 1,100 fewer jobs in October 2005. Since October 2004, this sector has gain of 1,000 jobs over the year.

The state’s leisure and hospitality sector fell by 600 jobs from September 2005 to October 2005. Since October 2004, the sector’s employment has gone up by 4,900 employees. The sector includes arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodations and food services and drinking places industries.

Kentucky’s information sector employment went down by 100 jobs from September 2005 to October 2005. This sector, which includes firms involved in publishing, Internet activities and broadcasting and news syndication, has 700 fewer jobs since October 2004.

Kentucky’s financial activities sector fell by 100 jobs in October 2005. This sector, which includes establishments involved in finance, insurance, real estate and property leasing or rental, has decreased by 1,700 jobs over the past 12 months.

Employment in the other services sector, which includes such establishments as repair and maintenance places, personal and laundry services, religious organizations, and civic and professional organizations, decreased by 100 jobs from September 2005 to October 2005. Over the past 12 months, the sector has added 1,200 positions.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic’s monthly estimate of the number of employed Kentuckians for October 2005 was 1,901,229 on a seasonally adjusted basis. This figure is up 3,906 from the 1,897,323 employed in September 2005, and up 28,235 from the 1,872,994 employed in October 2004.

The monthly estimate of the number of unemployed Kentuckians for October 2005 was 121,615. This figure is up 6,434 from the 115,181 unemployed in September 2005, and up 26,173 from the 95,442 Kentuckians unemployed in October 2004.

The monthly estimate of the number of Kentuckians in the civilian labor force for October 2005 was 2,022,844. This figure is up 10,340 from the 2,012,504 recorded in September 2005, and up 54,408 from the 1,968,436 recorded for October 2004. 

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.

Kentucky’s statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events, such as weather changes, harvests, holidays and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. However, because of the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

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

(30)