By AP
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky's annual unemployment rate rose from 5.6% in 2004 to 6.1% in 2005.
But the Department for Workforce Investment reports that at the same time, Kentucky's employment recorded a net gain of 26,800 jobs, a record increase since 2000.
The U. S. unemployment rate decreased from 5.5% in 2004 to 5.1% last year. Unemployment rates declined in 39 states and the District of Columbia from 2004 to 2005. Hawaii posted the lowest annual jobles rate in the country at 2.8%, while Mississippi had the highest annual rate at 7.9%.
Eighteen states, including Kentucky and the District of Columbia, had higher annual unemployment rates than the U. S. rate last year.