Pandemic takes toll on jobless numbers

By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor

FRANKFORT – Jobless rates skyrocketed in April in Kentucky due to restrictions placed by Gov. Andy Beshear in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to figures released last week by the Kentucky Center for Statistics. The state’s unemployment rate rose from 5.3 percent in March to 16.1 percent in April. Kentucky’s rate in April 2019 was 3.9 percent. The FIVCO and Big Sandy area development districts also saw a huge increase in their jobless numbers. The rate in the FIVCO district rose from 8.2 percent in March to 18.7 percent in April, while the Big Sandy ADD’s rate went from 9.4 percent to 18.3 percent. Lawrence County reported the lowest rate in the FIVCO ADD in April at 15.9 percent, compared to 9.1 percent in March, while Carter County had the district’s highest rate at 20.1 percent, compared to 8.9 percent the previous month. Other FIVCO rates in April were 18.6 percent in Boyd County, 18.9 percent in Greenup County and 19.7 percent in Elliott County. Johnson County recorded the lowest rate in the Big Sandy ADD in April at 16.4 percent, compared to 8.7 percent in March, and Magoffin County had the highest rate at 27.8 percent, compared to 17.2 percent the month before. Other April rates in the Big Sandy district included 17.3 percent in Floyd County, up from 8.8 percent in March; 17.6 percent in Pike County, up from 8.4 percent; and 18.8 percent in Martin County, up from 11.3 percent. 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 16.1 percent for April, and 14.4 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.