EDITOR'S NOTE: A link to Kentucky county unemployment rate charts is below.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 23, 2022) –Unemployment rates rose in nine Kentucky counties, fell in 107 counties, and stayed the same in four counties between May 2021 and May 2022, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
Cumberland and Woodford counties recorded the lowest jobless rates in the commonwealth at 2.6% each. It was followed by Scott County, 2.8%; Anderson, Boone, Fayette, Harrison, Jessamine and Monroe counties, 2.9% each; and Carroll, Logan, Simpson, Todd and Washington counties, 3% each.
Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 10.9%. It was followed by Breathitt and Martin counties, 7.8% each; Elliott County, 7.3%; Leslie County, 6.9%; Carter and Owsley counties, 6.7% each; Harlan County, 6.5%; Lewis County, 6.4%; and Johnson County, 6.2%.
Kentucky’s county unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted because of small sample sizes. 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. The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 3.8% for May 2022, and 3.4% for the nation.
Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted May 2022 unemployment rate was released on June 16, 2022, and can be viewed at https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=EducationCabinet&prId=566.
In that release, Kentucky’s statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are adjusted to observe statistical trends by removing seasonal influences such as weather changes, harvests, holidays, and school openings and closings. For more information regarding seasonal fluctuations, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at https://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#why.
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 data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.
Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at https://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI.
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