The unemployment rate across the state in the eight-county Northern Kentucky region (as defined by the state) ticked upward from November to December as the economic impact of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Statewide, the unemployment rate stood at 5.7% in December, up from 5.1% in November. The rate for December 2019 was 3.9%.
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.
Northern Kentucky’s regional unemployment rate was lower than the statewide average in December, coming in at 5.1%, up from 4.5% in November. The rate was 3.2% in December 2019.
Boone and Pendleton counties recorded the lowest unemployment rates in the region, with each coming in at 4.8%. That marked an increase from 4.3% in November for Boone Co., and an increase from 3.2% in December of the previous year. Pendleton Co.’s ticked up further, from 3.8% in November and 3.5% the year before.
Grant Co. recorded the highest unemployment rate in the region, tying the state average of 5.7% for December, up from 5.2% the month before, and 3.6% the year before.
Owen Co.’s rate in December was 5.6%, up from 5.2% in November, and up from 3.6% the year before.
Kenton County’s unemployment rate in December was 5.4%, up from 4.6% in November, and up from 3.3% the year before.
In Campbell Co., the rate in December was 5.1%, up from 4.4% in November, and up from 3.1% the year before.
Gallatin Co. recorded an unemployment rate of 5.2% in December, up from 4.9% in November and 3.5% the previous year.
In Carroll Co., the rate of unemployment was 5% in December, up from 4.4% in November, and up from 3.6% the prior year.
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.
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.
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.