Unemployment rate falls in all 120 Ky. counties in 2021

These figures do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for work within the past four weeks.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Annual unemployment rates decreased in all 120 Kentucky counties in 2021, according to information released on Monday by the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.  

Data compiled by the Cabinet’s Kentucky Center for Statistics says the statewide rate was 4.7% for the year, down from the 6.4% reported in 2020.

In 2021, 60 counties were above the comparable, unadjusted annual state unemployment of 4.7%, while 57 were below the state unadjusted rate and the other three, Bracken, Hardin, and Marshall counties, were at the 4.7% rate.

Compared to the national unadjusted 2021 annual rate of 5.3%, 37 Kentucky counties had higher annual rates last year, while 78 were lower and five, Barren, Fulton, Meade, Montgomery, and Rowan counties, matched the figure. 

Woodford County had Kentucky’s lowest annual unemployment rate last year at 3.4%.  It was followed by Cumberland County, 3.5%; Oldham and Todd counties, 3.6% each; Green and Scott counties, 3.7% each; and Boone, Carlisle, Logan, and Shelby counties, 3.8% each.

On the other end of the scale, Magoffin County recorded the highest annual jobless rate at 12.5%.  It was followed by Martin County, 9.3%; Breathitt and Harlan counties, 8.6%; Elliott County, 8.4%; Leslie County, 8.1%; Carter County, 7.8%; Letcher and Lewis counties, 7.6%; and Johnson County, 7.3%.

Counties with the largest decline from 2020 to 2021 were Marion County, -3.2 percentage points; Magoffin County, -3 percentage points; Harlan and Simpson counties, -2.8 percentage points each; and Russell County, -2.6 percentage points.

The unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than an actual count of people working, according to the Cabinet.  Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work.  T

These figures do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for work within the past four weeks.

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