State Says Jobless Rates Down in 114 Counties for January

The Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet  says jobless rates declined in 114 of the state’s counties from January of last year to January of 2012. State officials say Woodford County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state, at 6.9 percent. Webster, Fayette, Union, Oldham, and Henderson Counties are among those listed with relatively low rates, ranging from 7.2 to 7.9 percent.

Fulton County has Kentucky’s highest jobless rate, at 17.7 percent.  Counties  listed with relatively high unemployment rates include Magoffin, Menifee, Jackson and McCreary. The statistics are compiled to measure trends rather than to actually count the number of people who are working in the Commonwealth. Civilian labor force statistics do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment in the past four weeks.