FRANKFORT — Only three of the state’s 120 counties saw a drop in its unemployment rate as compared to a year ago.
Bullitt County, along with Fulton and Lewis, had that distinction for the month of March 2024.
Unemployment rates rose in 116 counties between March 2023 and March 2024, fell in Bullitt, Fulton and Lewis counties, and remained the same in Spencer County, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.
Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 3.7 percent. It was followed by Washington County, 3.8 percent; Marion and Shelby counties, 4.1 percent; Anderson, Fayette, Oldham, Scott and Spencer counties, 4.2% each; and Bourbon, Carroll, Cumberland and Nelson counties, 4.3 percent each.
Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 11.1%. It was followed by Martin County, 10.1%; Breathitt County, 9.3%; Elliott County, 9.2%; Lewis County, 8.8%; Carter County, 8.7%; Menifee County, 8.6%; Knott County, 8.5%; and Johnson and Leslie counties, 8.3% each.
According to figures released by the state, Bullitt County had an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent in March 2024. That compared to 4.8 percent the prior year.
Of the 42,164 classified as being in the employment pool, 1,910 Bullitt Countians were without jobs this March.
It was also below the 4.7 percent jobless mark for February 2024.
Of the seven counties in the Kentuckiana Area Development District, Bullitt County was in the middle of the pack. Shelby County had the lowest mark at 4.1 percent unemployment.
Spencer County and Oldham County were close behind at 4.2 percent. Bullitt and Henry counties were next at 4.5 percent. Jefferson County recorded 4.6 percent and Trimble County was last at 4.8 percent, with 183 residents out of work.
Kentucky’s county unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted because of small sample sizes. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events such as weather changes, harvests, holidays, and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 5.1% for March 2024, and 3.9% for the nation.
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 data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.