FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 25, 2002) - Kentucky's labor market followed normal seasonal trends for the beginning of the year as the state's unemployment rate rose from a revised 5.8 percent in December to 6.4 percent in January, according to the Department for Employment Services, a Cabinet for Workforce Development agency.  

Kentucky's January 2002 jobless rate was above the January 2001 rate of 5.6 percent.  The U.S. jobless rate also rose from 5.4 percent in December to 6.3 percent in January.

"Kentucky's unemployment rate has increased from December to January for the past 24 consecutive years.  Typically, Kentucky has its highest jobless rates for the entire year in January and February.  In fact, the .6 percentage point increase in Kentucky's rate from December 2001 to January 2002 is the smallest December to January increase since 1978," said Carlos Cracraft, the department's chief labor market analyst. "The last time Kentucky had a January jobless rate as high as 6.4 percent was in January 1997 when it was 6.8 percent."

All of the nine major job sectors had employment decreases in January, Cracraft said.  

The trade sector reported the highest employment loss with 13,800 fewer jobs in January.  "This decline mostly was due to the end of the holiday season. Every retail trade industry with any connection to the Christmas holiday season had fewer employees in January," Cracraft said. In the trade sector, eating and drinking establishments had 4,800 fewer jobs, general merchandise stores reported 4,200 fewer positions, apparel and accessory stores had 1,100 fewer jobs, building materials and garden supply stores, and miscellaneous retail stores each had 900 fewer jobs.  

The government sector dropped by 9,200 jobs in January.  Cracraft said most of this loss can be attributed to the between-semesters break at Kentucky's public education institutions.  As a result, 8,300 of those jobs were in state and local education.

The services sector, Kentucky's largest employment sector, recorded a loss of 9,100 positions in January but many of these jobs were seasonal.  The business services category, which includes many temporary and contract workers, decreased by 3,200 in January.  Other seasonal losses were in amusements and recreation, agricultural services and hotels and other lodging places.  Personal services was one area that gained jobs (+600) in January.  Since January 2001, the sector is up by 8,700 jobs.

The construction sector recorded its normal employment decline in January with 7,200 fewer jobs.  Cold, damp weather hindered outdoor work and brought losses in special trade categories, general building contractors and heavy construction.  January 2002 reported 2,500 more construction jobs than January 2001.

Agriculture was down by 5,300 jobs in January because of cold weather.  

The transportation, communications and utilities sector recorded 2,000 fewer positions in January 2002. Over the last year the sector has lost 2,600 jobs mostly in air transportation (-2,00).

Job losses continued in the manufacturing sector as a total of 1,100 fewer jobs in January.  The durable goods category fell by 800 in January while nondurable goods manufacturing declined by 300 positions.  Since January 2001, manufacturing jobs have decreased by 14,900.

The finance, insurance and real estate sector had 900 fewer jobs in January.

The mining and quarrying sector had 400 fewer positions in January.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly estimate of the number of employed Kentuckians for January 2002 was 1,850,190.  This figure is down 4,298 from the 1,854,488 employed in December 2001, but up 3,564 from the 1,846,626 Kentuckians employed in January 2001.

The monthly estimate of the number of unemployed Kentuckians for January 2002 was 126,365.  This figure is up 12,651 from the 113,714 unemployed in December 2001, and up 15,824 from the 110,541 Kentuckians unemployed in January 2001.

The monthly estimate of the number of Kentuckians in the civilian labor force for January 2002 was 1,976,555.  This figure is up 8,353 from the 1,968,202 recorded in December 2001, and up 19,388 from the 1,957,167 recorded for January 2001.  

The civilian labor force includes non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work.  It does not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.

Employment and unemployment statistics are based on estimates.  They are compiled to indicate employment trends rather than actually to count numbers of people who are or are not working.

Unemployment rates increase in 105 Kentucky counties in January.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 8, 2002) - Unemployment rates rose in 105 Kentucky counties between December and January, fell in 13 and remained the same in two counties, according to the Department for Employment Services, a Cabinet for Workforce Development agency.

Kentucky's unemployment rate rose from 5.8 percent in December 2001 to 6.4 percent in January 2002.

From January 2001 to January 2002, jobless rates rose in 70 counties, went down in 48, and stayed the same in Daviess and Trigg counties.  In January 2002, 20 counties had jobless rates at or above 10 percent.  Thirteen counties recorded double-digit rates in December 2001 and 19 in January 2001.

Oldham and Woodford counties' 3 percent jobless rates were the lowest in the commonwealth.  Other low rates were recorded in Fayette, Franklin and Jessamine counties, 3.7 percent each; Campbell and Scott counties, 4.3 percent each; Pike County, 4.4 percent; Metcalfe County, 4.6 percent; and Boone, Kenton, Knott, McCracken, Marion and Shelby counties, 4.8 percent each.

Lewis County recorded the state's highest unemployment rate - 15.2 percent.  It was followed by Morgan County, 14.9 percent; Carter County, 14.5 percent; Russell County, 13.6 percent; Magoffin and Nicholas counties, 13.4 percent each; McCreary County, 12.8 percent; Menifee and Monroe counties, 12.6 percent each, and Elliott County, 12.5 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.