Unemployment rises again in state, county

Local News

February 4, 2010

By Tara Kaprowy The Sentinel-Echo Thu Feb 04, 2010, 11:39 AM EST

After a one-month decrease, unemployment in Laurel County jumped again in December.

Statistics compiled by the Kentucky Labor Force estimates 10.2 percent of Laurel Countians were out of work in December, compared to 9.6 percent in November. Statewide, the unemployment was 10.4 percent in December, up from 10.1 percent in November. About 78 percent of Kentucky counties had a higher unemployment rate than Laurel in December.

Labor force statistics are measured by unemployed Kentuckians who are actively looking for work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.

Magoffin County recorded the highest unemployment in the state, with 21.4 percent of people out of work. It was followed by Jackson County (17.8 percent) and Menifee County (17.5 percent).

Fayette County had the lowest jobless rate at 7.3 percent. Woodford County had the second lowest at 7.7 percent, followed by Boyd County at 8 percent.

All of the counties that surround Laurel County have higher rates.

This month, 119 counties reported higher unemployment rates in December from the same time last year. Only Union County’s rate was lower than last year.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates assembled through surveying households. They do not involve actually counting the number of people who are working.

Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.

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