Jobless rate down in month of October

The local jobless rate decreased between September and October, according to the latest figures released by the Cabinet for Workforce Development. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.1 percent in October, down from 5.4 percent in September.

The rate for October represents a sharp decrease from October 2001, when the local unemployment rate was 11.5 percent.

In the Lake Cumberland area, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in October, up slightly from 5.8 percent in September. In October 2001 the unemployment rate in this area was 8.2 percent.

The lowest rate in the Lake Cumberland area was 3.9 percent recorded in Cumberland County. The highest jobless rate in the area was 9 percent, recorded in Russell County.

Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate for October was 4.9 percent. Only five counties in the state recorded double digit unemployment rates during the month, according to the figures.

Woodford County’s 2.1 percent jobless rate was the lowest in the state. Other low rates were recorded in Jessamine County, 2.5 percent; Franklin and Oldham counties, 2.6 percent each; Barren County, 3.1 percent; Campbell and Greenup counties, 3.2 percent each; and Fayette, Gallatin, and Henry counties, 3.3 percent each.

Butler County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate—14.4 percent. It was followed by Muhlenberg County, 13.7 percent; Harlan County, 11.2 percent; Magoffin County, 10.9 percent; Letcher County, 10.2 percent; Breathitt, Ohio, and Russell counties, 9 percent each; Morgan County, 8.9 percent; Clay and Monroe counties, 8.4 percent each.

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