Grayson Co. jobless rate down two-percent since Feb. 2017; state’s unemployment rate lowest in 42 years

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Kentucky’s unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since the Bureau of Labor Statistics started collecting employment data 42 years ago.

The state’s jobless rate fell to 4.0 percent in March, down from 4.1 percent in February, according to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. The national jobless rate was 4.1 percent in March.

“Kentucky’s employment continued to improve in March with employers adding 1,200 jobs and unemployment rate declining to 4 percent,” University of Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research Director Chris Bollinger told media outlets. “However, as the labor market has tightened, growth in payroll employment has slowed somewhat.”

Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,049,934 in March, reports Kentucky Today, with the trade, transportation and utilities sectors experiencing the largest increase with 1,700 additional jobs for the month.

In Grayson County, the jobless rate has dropped two full percentage points since February 2017, when the unemployment rate for the county was 7.4 percent. In February 2018, the jobless rate checked in at 5.2 percent. The lowest unemployment rate Grayson County has posted since January 2014 was 4.2 percent in December 2017.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000