Coalfield counties, facing a prolonged slump in mining, have again recorded the highest unemployment rates in the state.
The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training released jobless numbers for November on Thursday showing coal-rich Leslie County with the state's worst unemployment rate at 16.4 percent.
The coalfield counties of Magoffin, Harlan and Letcher all had jobless rates at or above 15 percent. Knott County unemployment was at 14 percent, and Bell and McCreary counties were at 13.6 percent each.
The latest numbers showed unemployment rates had risen in 96 counties.
Woodford County, in central Kentucky, had the lowest jobless rate at 5.9 percent. It was followed by Daviess and Fayette counties at 6.1 percent each. Scott County was at 6.2 percent and Boone County at 6.3 percent.