EDITORS NOTE: 2007 county unemployment rate charts are posted at http://workforce.ky.gov/Ann2007chart.pdf.pdf. Acrobat Reader is required to view charts. To download Acrobat Reader, please see the end of this news release.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 31, 2008) — Ninety-three Kentucky counties posted lower annual unemployment rates in 2007 than in 2006, while 21 counties were higher, and six counties were the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training in the Kentucky Education Cabinet.
In 2007, three Kentucky counties had an annual jobless rate at or above 10 percent compared to four counties that recorded double-digit rates in 2006.
Woodford County’s 3.9 percent annual jobless rate was the lowest in the commonwealth in 2007. Other low rates also were recorded in Fayette County, 4 percent; Warren County, 4.3 percent; Scott County, 4.4 percent; Boone, Franklin and Jessamine counties, 4.5 percent each; Mason County, 4.7 percent; Kenton, Madison, Oldham and Shelby counties, 4.8 percent each.
Jackson County recorded the state’s highest annual unemployment rate in 2007 — 13.9 percent. It was followed by Clay County, 10.8 percent; Magoffin County, 10.5 percent; Wolfe County, 9.9 percent; Owsley County, 9.4 percent; McCreary County, 9.2 percent; Harlan County, 9.1 percent; Leslie and Morgan counties, 8.8 percent each; and Menifee County, 8.7 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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