County unemployment hits 10.5 percent

Local News

December 1, 2009

By Tara Kaprowy The Sentinel-Echo Tue Dec 01, 2009, 11:50 AM EST

Laurel County’s unemployment rate is nearly 4 percent higher than it was a year ago, but, compared to surrounding counties, it is faring relatively well in the nationwide recession.

Statistics compiled by the Kentucky Labor Force estimates 10.5 percent of Laurel Countians were out of work in October, whereas in September 10.1 percent were. Statewide, 10.7 percent of Kentuckians didn’t have a job.

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 21.7 percent of people out of work. It was followed by Jackson County (17.5 percent) and Powell County (17.1 percent).

Fayette County has the lowest jobless rate in the state at 7.8 percent. Calloway County has the second lowest at 8 percent, followed by Boyd County at 8.4 percent.

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

All 120 counties reported higher unemployment rates in September from the same time 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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