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Jobless rate inches lower
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CopyMuhlenberg County's unemployment rate in July bucked the state-wide trend, as the local rate inched down to 12.1 percent from 12.2 percent in June.
Out of a civilian labor force of 13,931, there were 12,248 countians working in July and 1,683 jobless, according to the monthly report from the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
A year ago, Muhlenberg County's unemployment rate stood at 9.6 percent.
AREA RATES
Jobless rates for area counties in July follow: Butler 16, Christian 13, Hokins 10.3, Logan 11.3, McLean 11.7, Ohio 10.9 and Todd 13.4.
Unemployment rates rose in all 120 Kentucky counties between July 2008 and July 2009.
Fayette County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 8.2 percent.
It was followed by Oldham County, 8.6 percent; Boyd and Calloway counties, 8.8 percent each; Ballard and McCracken counties, 9 percent each; Clinton County, 9.1 percent; Franklin County, 9.3 percent; Hickman County, 9.4 percent; and Woodford County, 9.5 percent.
Magoffin County recorded the state's highest unemployment rate--19.6 percent. It was followed by Jackson County, 17.4 percent; Powell County, 16.3 percent; Bath, Trigg and Metcalfe counties, 16 percent each; Grayson, Lewis and Menifee counties, 15.6 percent each; and Hancock County, 15.4 percent.
Kentucky's seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate for July 2009 hit the 11 percent mark, the highest since August 1983 when the rate was 11. 1 percent, from a revised 10.9 percent in June 2009, according to the Office of Employment and Training (OET), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
July 2009's jobless rate is 4.5 percentage points higher than the 6.5 percent rate recorded in July 2008.
"The increase in Kentucky's non-farm employment in July 2009 is indicative of employees at a major manufacturer returning to work after a layoff, and does not reflect the creation of any new jobs," said Dr. Justine Detzel, OET chief labor market analyst.
Copyright 2009 The Times-Argus, Central City, Kentucky. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2009 The Times-Argus Central City, Kentucky. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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