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Unemployment rates fell in 32 Kentucky counties, stayed the same in three and rose in 85 counties between August 2016 and August 2017, according to the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics (KCEWS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 3.5 percent. It was followed by Shelby County, 3.8 percent; Campbell, Fayette, Monroe, Oldham and Scott counties, 3.9 percent each; Jessamine County, 4 percent; and Boone, Kenton and Spencer counties, 4.1 percent each.
Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 15.4 percent. It was followed by Leslie County, 12.7 percent; Elliott County, 10.7 percent, Carter and Harlan counties, 10.5 percent each; Letcher County, 9.7 percent; Breathitt County, 9.3 percent; Lewis County, 9.2 percent; Owsley County, 9.1 percent; and Jackson County 9 percent.
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 5.2 percent for August 2017, and 4.5 percent 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.
Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at https://kcews.ky.gov/KYLMI.
The Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet’s Workforce Intelligence Branch is now a part of the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics (KCEWS) following an alignment of the two state organizations that was finalized this month.
“KCEWS’ existing partnerships within the education and workforce community will allow the Workforce Intelligence Branch to build upon their current relationships and cultivate new ones,” said Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner. “KCEWS has been nationally recognized for its data collection, and this new alignment with the Workforce Intelligence Branch will serve to maximize its already great potential.”
The Workforce Intelligence Branch is responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive system of labor market and workforce data, including producing occupational projections and state and local employment rate data. KCEWS maintains the Kentucky Longitudinal Data System (KLDS) which integrates data from multiple state education and workforce sources. KCEWS’ data is utilized by policymakers, employers, local workforce areas, trainers, educators, students, career counselors, economic developers, job seekers and other government agencies.
Dr. Kate Akers, executive director of KCEWS, said the alignment provides the opportunity for use and analysis of data beyond the scope of that traditionally published in the Workforce Intelligence Branch.
“The integration of the Workforce Intelligence Branch into KCEWS will expand both the scope and quality of services and products provided to its customers so that they can make informed decisions when it comes to making education and career choices,” said Akers.
The alignment of the two offices has afforded the opportunity for KCEWS to overhaul its existing website, kcews.ky.gov. The site stores and makes available Kentucky’s labor market information and interactive reports such as KCEWS’ Kentucky Future Skills Report, which provides five-year projections on hiring and salary information for specific careers. A new platform constructed within the existing KCEWS website now highlights interactive maps filtered by local workforce areas and key workforce indicators. The tool allows the public to produce results at a county and industry level.
Traditional labor market information as well as historical data such as unemployment rates from previous years can be found on the newly improved site. New interactive products will also continue to be designed around feedback received from stakeholders and data users.
