EDITORS NOTE: October county unemployment rate charts are posted at http://workforce.ky.gov/Oct06charts.pdf. Acrobat Reader is required to view charts. To download Acrobat Reader, please see the end of this news release.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2006) — Unemployment rates fell in 108 Kentucky counties between October 2005 and October 2006, rose in 10 counties and stayed the same in two counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training in the Education Cabinet.

None of Kentucky’s 120 counties had a jobless rate at or above 10 percent in October 20006 compared to three counties that recorded a double-digit rate last October.

Woodford, Warren and Jessamine counties tied for the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 3.4 percent each. Other counties with low unemployment rates: Boone County, 3.5 percent; Fayette and Madison counties, 3.6 percent each; Scott County, 3.7 percent; and Gallatin, Robertson and Taylor counties, 3.8 percent each.

Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 9.5 percent. It was followed by Clay County, 8.9 percent; Leslie County, 8.5 percent; McCreary County, 8.3 percent; Wolfe County, 8.1 percent; Magoffin County, 7.9 percent; Harlan County, 7.7 percent; Muhlenberg County, 7.6 percent; Owsley County, 7.5 percent; and Bell, Bullitt, Morgan and Spencer counties, 6.8 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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