The state unemployment rate declined slightly in August despite significant job losses in some key labor market sectors.
The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training reported Thursday that the rate fell to 8.4 percent, down from 8.5 percent in July.
State economist Manoj Shanker said the trade, transportation and utilities sector shed 2,100 jobs in August. The financial services sector lost 700 jobs. The government sector fell by 500 positions. The information sector, which includes newspapers, lost another 500 workers. And the mining and logging sector declined by another 100.
Those losses were offset by gains in the state's professional and business services sector, which added 2,700 jobs. The construction sector added 1,700 jobs. The manufacturing sector grew by 1,500 jobs. Education and health services increased by 1,300 jobs.