Published: August 28, 2008 08:00 am      

Unemployment rate increases across the state

Unemployment rates in 112 of Kentucky’s 120 counties have increased since last year and Madison County’s amount of unemployed citizens has jumped 1.1 percent.

The unemployment rate in Madison County was at 6.1 percent as of July, compared with a 5 percent unemployment rate in July 2007.

The local and statewide fall in jobs is the result of several things, including “grappling with the fallout from the housing crisis, tighter credit and skyrocketing food and energy process,” according to Justine Detzel, chief labor market analyst for the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

The manufacturing industry is the area where most unemployment in Madison County is reflected, according to Detzel. Those in the manufacturing field accounted for 30 percent of the unemployment insurance claims in the Richmond office, an increase of 10 percent from last month.

However, employment in the manufacturing business on a statewide level continues to look promising, Detzel said.

“The manufacturing sector rebounded in July from a 4,200 job loss in June,” she said. “This marks the third time this year manufacturing employment has risen. We’ve seen a lot of fluctuation in the manufacturing sector this year. The durable goods subsector accounted for the job gains in July. This employment increase reflects employees at a major manufacturer returning to work after a layoff and expansions at two different manufacturers.”

The number of people employed in the manufacturing field has increased by 1,400 since the beginning of the year, she said.

As for unemployment rates across the state: Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the state at 5.3 percent. Other counties with low unemployment rates were Fayette County, 5.4 percent; Boone County, 5.6 percent; Bourbon and Oldham counties, 5.7 percent; Jessamine and Scott counties, 5.9 percent; and Franklin, Kenton and Livingston counties, 6 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate with 11.5 percent. It was followed by Jackson County, 11.2 percent; Wolfe County, 10.8 percent; Grayson County, 10.6 percent; Clay County, 10.5 percent; Elliott, Harlan and Morgan counties, 10.1 percent each; and Bell, McCreary and Muhlenberg counties, 9.9 percent each.

Kentucky’s unemployment rate as of July was 6.7 percent, which showed an increase of .4 percent in one month.

The national unemployment rate increased from 5.5 percent to 5.7 percent in a one-month span.

Visit www.work-force.ky.gov for more information about Kentucky’s labor force.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.