FRANKFORT — Unemployment rates fell in 98 Kentucky counties between August 2011 and August 2012, while 20 county rates increased and two stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Oldham County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 6.5 percent. It was followed by Franklin, Scott and Union counties, 6.6 percent each; Fayette County, 6.7 percent; Boone and Jessamine counties, 6.8 percent each; Madison County, 6.9 percent; and Hancock, Ohio and Shelby counties, 7 percent each.



Fulton County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.7 percent. It was followed by Magoffin County, 16.6 percent; Harlan and Leslie counties, 14.3 percent each; Letcher County, 14 percent; Bell and McCreary counties, 13.8 percent each; Jackson County, 13.7 percent; Knott County, 13.2 percent; and Wolfe County, 13.1 percent.



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 statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted to allow for comparisons between United States, state and county figures.

Rates for the Barren River area are below

COUNTY        LABOR FORCE    EMPLOYMENT    UNEMPLOYMENT    Aug 12   July 12    Aug 11

ALLEN            8,494                     7,740                     754                            8.9%       9.0%       9.9%

BARREN        19,043                   17,512                   1,531                         8.0%        8.2%       9.7%

BUTLER         5,578                     5,095                     483                            8.7%        9.0%       9.9%

EDMONSON  4,974                     4,514                     460                            9.2%        9.2%       10.0%

HART             8,470                     7,811                     659                             7.8%        7.6%       9.0%

LOGAN          12,559                   11,636                   923                             7.3%        7.3%       8.6%

METCALFE    4,182                    3,801                     381                             9.1%        8.6%       10.2%

MONROE       4,761                    4,399                     362                             7.6%        7.6%        8.9%

SIMPSON       8,982                   8,199                     783                              8.7%        9.1%        9.9%

WARREN       57,968                  53,699                  4,269                            7.4%         7.6%      8.1%