Published: April 07, 2009 12:31 pm         

Jobless rate is on the rise

Monticello — The local jobless rate increased another half a percent from January to

February, according to the latest figures from the Kentucky Office of

Employment and Training. The unemployment rate for Wayne County was 13

percent in February, up from 12.5 percent in January.

In February 2008, Wayne County's jobless rate was 7.9 percent.

Overall, the Lake Cumberland area showed a significant increase in

unemployment, from 10.9 percent in January to 11.8 percent in February. In

February 2008, the unemployment rate for the 10-county area was 7.2 percent.

Every county in the lake area recorded double digit unemployment in

February, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training. The

highest rate in the area was 15.3 percent, which was recorded in Cumberland

County. The lowest rate in the area was 10.1 percent, which was recorded in

Taylor County.

Other Lake Cumberland Area unemployment rates were: Adair County, 12.2

percent; Casey County, 10.8 percent; Clinton County, 12 percent; Green

County, 12.4 percent; McCreary County, 14.6 percent; Pulaski County, 10.8

percent; and Russell County, 12.9 percent.

Fayette County recorded the state's lowest jobless rate at 7.4 percent.

Other counties with comparatively low unemployment rates were: Boyd County,

7.7 percent; Wodford County, 7.8 percent; Oldham County, 8 percent; Pike

County, 8.1 percent; and Boone County, 8.3 percent.

Menifee County recorded the state's highest unemployment rate at 18.9

percent. Other high rates included: Bath County, 18.2 percent; Jackson

County, 16.7 percent; Powell County, 16.2 percent; and Magoffin County, 15.8

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.

Annual Unemployment Rates

Annual unemployment rates for 2008 were also recently released by the

Kentucky Office of Employment and Training. Wayne County's annual rate in

2008 was 8.2 percent, compared to 6.7 percent in 2007.

The Lake Cumberland Area had an overall unemployment rate of 7.1 percent

in 2008 compared to 6.2 percent in 2007. None of the 10 counties in the lake

area had average unemployment in double digits in 2008. McCreary County had

the highest rate at 9.6 percent. The lowest average rate in this area for

2008 was 6 percent, which was recorded in Taylor County.

According to the information released for 2008, annual unemployment

rates were higher in 110 Kentucky counties than in 2007. Ten counties were

lower. Five Kentucky counties had annual jobless rates at or above 10

percent, compared to three counties that recorded double-digit rates in

2007.

     

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