GLASGOW — April’s unemployment figure in Barren County was at 5.2 percent, a decrease from March’s 5.8 percent.
“As warm weather and summer approaches, unemployment rates have a tendency to fall,” said Justine Detzel, chief labor market analyst for the Office of Employment and Training (OET). “Retailers see an uptick in sales, construction projects begin and agricultural workers are needed for spring plantings.”
For the corresponding month in 2007, however, the county was slightly better off at 5.1 percent, according to figures from the OET.
In the Barren River region as a whole, the unemployment rate was 5.0 percent, down from March’s 5.9 percent and tied with the corresponding 2007 month.
Hart County’s numbers dipped from 6.0 to 5.2 percent, Metcalfe decreased from 6.7 to 5.6 percent, Monroe County was down from 8.4 to 7.1 percent and Warren County fell from 4.9 to 4.3 percent.
Statewide, April’s unemployment statistic was 5.5 percent, a drop from March’s 6.1 percent.
In April 2007, Kentucky had an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent.
“The housing, financial and credit crises continued to take a toll on Kentucky’s economy,” Detzel said. “There was a decline of 7,200 manufacturing jobs between April 2007 and April 2008. The decrease reflects the economic climate in Kentucky over the last year.”
Detzel said manufacturing has faced a “one-two punch,” suffering from both the weak economy and a slump in the automobile industry.
“Cash-strapped consumers — squeezed by higher food and energy prices, tighter credit conditions and declining household wealth due to falling home prices and a moribund stock market — are shifting away from big-ticket purchases such as automobiles,” she said. “Moreover, record gasoline prices continue to reduce demand for sports utility vehicles and pickup trucks.”
Local News
Unemployment rate drops locally
Barren’s rate below national average
- Local News
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Ambulance board OKs outsource billing
After a thorough discussion during Wednesday’s board meeting, the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Services decided to outsource its billing to AMB-MARS (Medical Accounts Receivable Systems doing business as AMBulance Medical Billing), contingent on AMB-MARS adding a guarantee clause on its work.
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Teen named local youth of the year
Rayne Triplett has been practicing the speech she will give at the end of the month when she travels to Frankfort to compete for the Boys and Girls Club’s 2012 State Youth of the Year title.
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Howard lauded for G/T work
Glasgow Superintendent Sean Howard was presented the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education’s Michael Caudill Educator Award on Monday at the annual KAGE conference in Lexington.
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Teens to be tried as adults
Barren Circuit Court released the names of two juveniles charged in an armed robbery in October, after the court decided to try the teens as youthful offenders in adult circuit court.
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Payne pleads guilty to lesser charge
A Glasgow man who had been facing a felony charge of custodial interference pleaded guilty Tuesday in Barren Circuit Court to a lesser charge.
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Rowland will take Comer's seat for now
A Monroe County businessman will fill the unexpired term of former state representative Jamie Comer, according to the results of Tuesday’s special election.
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County struggles to provide EPA report
Barren County Road Department Head Johnny Kinslow called his bi-monthly report to the fiscal court his “gloom and doom” report Tuesday night. After five years of letters and discussions, the Environmental Protection Agency has informed Kinslow that he must produce a closure report for underground fuel tanks that were removed 13 years ago, or face unnamed consequences.
- MORNING UPDATE: Two juveniles charged as adults in robbery
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Chamber names Travis ‘Outstanding Citizen’
Winning the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award Monday night came as a complete surprise to Dr. Bill Travis.
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