Staff Report

The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency under Kentucky’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, has released up to date statistics on the unemployment rates in Kentucky, with Harlan ranking among the highest in the state.

According to the cabinet, rates in 101 counties fell in the past year, with 17 counties showing an increased number of unemployed residents. Two counties remained the same.

Harlan County showed an unemployment rate of 13 percent, the same as Bell and Jackson counties. The highest rate in the state fell to Magoffin County, which recorded 15.5 percent unemployment. The lowest went to Woodford County, which showed a 5.6 percent unemployment rate.

A release from the cabinet states 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 are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.