Tagged: Kentucky Office of Employment and Training

Kentucky state government officials say jobless rates improved in 99 counties in November but worsened in 20 others.

The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training reports that Woodford County kept its status as the place with the lowest jobless rate in the state at 5.4 percent. Scott County had the second lowest rate at 5.9 percent. And Fayette, Franklin, Oldham and Union counties were at 6 percent.

Magoffin County had the worst unemployment at 15.1 percent. Fulton County was a close second at 15 percent.

Kentucky’s labor market numbers are returning to pre-recession levels.

Office of Employment andTraining Economist Manoj Shanker says Kentucky is now adding about 5,800 jobs each month. Shanker says one reason employers are hiring right now is because wages are low.

“Retail jobs and warehousing jobs have gone up. That’s because the wages have fallen a lot. So it doesn’t cost employers a lot to have people at the front lines working and selling things, especially during November and December,” Shanker said.