EDITORS NOTE: December county unemployment rate charts are posted at http://workforce.ky.gov/Dec06charts.pdf. Acrobat Reader is required to view charts. To download Acrobat Reader, please see the end of this news release.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Unemployment rates fell in 114 Kentucky counties between December 2005 and December 2006, rose in three counties and stayed the same in three counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training in the Education Cabinet.

In December 2006, two counties had a jobless rate at or above 10 percent compared to five counties that recorded double-digit rates in December 2005.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 3.5 percent. Other counties with low unemployment rates were Fayette and Oldham counties, 3.6 percent each; Scott County, 3.7 percent; Boone and Madison counties, 3.8 percent; and Bourbon, Gallatin, Jessamine and Warren counties, 3.9 percent each.

Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 12.2 percent. It was followed by Clay County, 10.3 percent; Wolfe County, 9.9 percent; Magoffin County, 9.7 percent; McCreary County, 9.3 percent; Owsley County, 8.9 percent; Muhlenberg County, 8.7 percent; Leslie County, 8.5 percent; and Menifee and Morgan counties, 8 percent each. 

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted to allow for comparisons between United States, state and counties figures.

Learn more about the Office of Employment and Training at www.workforce.ky.gov.

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