EDITORS NOTE: May county unemployment rate charts are posted at http://workforce.ky.gov/May06charts.pdf. Acrobat Reader is required to view charts. To download Acrobat Reader, please see the end of this news release.

Unemployment rates fell in 98 Kentucky counties between May 2005 and May 2006, rose in 18 counties and stayed the same in four counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training in the Education Cabinet.

In May 2006, one county had a jobless rate at or above 10 percent compared to three counties that recorded double-digit rates in May 2005.

Woodford County’s 4 percent jobless rate was the lowest in the commonwealth. Other low rates were recorded in Oldham County, 4.1 percent; Boone and Fayette counties, 4.2 percent each; Gallatin County, 4.3 percent; Jessamine, Scott, Shelby and Warren counties, 4.4 percent each; and Franklin and Madison counties, 4.5 percent each.

McCreary County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate—10.1 percent. It was followed by Muhlenberg County, 9.8 percent; Magoffin County 9.6 percent; Todd County, 9.5 percent; Clay and Wolfe counties, 9.4 percent each; Leslie County, 9.2 percent; Elliott County, 8.8 percent; Grayson County, 8.4 percent; and Jackson County, 8.2 percent. 

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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