Jobless rate up in FIVCO, Big Sandy districts

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

FRANKFORT – Unemployment rates continue to rise in the FIVCO and Big Sandy area development districts.

All 10 counties in the two districts saw their jobless rates increase in December, according to the latest report, with FIVCO’s rate rising from 6.6 percent in November to 8.1 percent the following month and Big Sandy’s rate up from 8.3 percent to 9 percent.

Lawrence County’s rate was 7.7 percent in December, up from 6.4 percent in November.

Other FIVCO rates for December were 7.5 percent, compared to 6.3 percent in November; 8 percent in Greenup County, up from 6.7 percent; 9 percent in Elliott County, which had a 6.7 percent rate the previous month; and 9.5 percent in Carter County, up from 7.3 percent.

The lowest rate in the Big Sandy ADD in December was 8.3 percent in Pike County, which reported a 7.6 percent rate in November. Magoffin County had the district’s and state’s highest rate at 14.8 percent, compared to 13.9 percent the previous month.

Other Big Sandy rates were 8.6 percent in Floyd County, compared to 8 percent; and 9 percent in Johnson and Martin counties, up from 7.8 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively.

Unemployment rates rose in 114 Kentucky counties between December 2019 and December 2020, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Oldham County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 3.9 percent. It was followed by Todd County, 4 percent; Logan County, 4.1 percent; Cumberland, Spencer, Washington and Woodford counties, 4.2 percent each; Shelby County, 4.3 percent; and Green and Monroe counties, 4.4 percent each.

Johnson and Martin counties’ 9 percent rates, which were also recorded in Elliott and Menifee counties, were the ninth highest in the state for December.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 14.8 percent. It was followed by Harlan County, 11.3 percent; Leslie County, 9.9 percent; Carter County, 9.5 percent; Letcher County, 9.1 percent; Elliott, Johnson, Martin and Menifee counties, 9 percent each; and Lewis County, 8.8 percent.

Oldham County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the state at 3.9 percent. It was followed by Todd County, 4 percent; Logan County, 4.1 percent; Cumberland, Spencer, Washington and Woodford counties, 4.2 percent each; Shelby County, 4.3 percent; and Green and Monroe counties, 4.4 percent each.

Kentucky’s county unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted because of small sample sizes. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events such as weather changes, harvests, holidays and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 5.7 percent for December 2020, and 6.5 percent for the nation.

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 data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.