Monticello — Annual unemployment rates were higher in all 120 Kentucky counties in

2009 than in 2008, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and

Training in the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

In Wayne County, the annual jobless rate increased more than five

percent from 2008 to 2009.

Locally, the average unemployment rate in 2009 was 13.7 percent,

compared to 8.5 percent in 2008.

In the Lake Cumberland Area, the annual unemployment rate for 2009 was

11.4 percent, up from 7.3 percent.

Only one county in the 10-county area had a higher average rate than

Wayne County and that was McCreary County at 14.1 percent.

The lowest average rate in 2009 in this area was 9.7 percent, which was

recorded in Clinton County.

Other average annual rates in the area were: Adair County, 11 percent;

Casey County, 10.7 percent; Cumberland County, 12.9 percent; Green County,

12 percent; Pulaski County, 10.6 percent; Russell County, 12.3 percent; and

Taylor County, 10.8 percent.

Fayette County's 7.8 percent annual jobless rate was the lowest in the

state in 2009. It was followed by: Woodford County, 8.2 percent; Calloway

County, 8.4 percent; Boyd County, 8.5 percent; and Oldham County, 8.6

percent.

Magoffin County re-corded the state's highest annual unemployment rate

at 18.5 percent. It was followed by: Jackson County, 16.9 percent; Menifee

County, 16.4 percent; Powell County, 15.8 percent; and Bath and Metcalfe

counties, 15.6 percent each.