Counties with the highest unemployment in Kentucky

In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It’s been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve’s higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It’s up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Kentucky using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS. 

In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP’s National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses. 

The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.

To get a better idea of your community’s current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Kentucky.

#25. Menifee County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
— 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,347 people (147 unemployed)

#24. Perry County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
— 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 8,071 people (516 unemployed)

#23. Greenup County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
— 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 13,001 people (832 unemployed)

#22. Pike County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
— 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 19,712 people (1,268 unemployed)

#21. Lawrence County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,033 people (392 unemployed)

#20. McCreary County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
— 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,809 people (316 unemployed)

#19. Wolfe County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
— 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,302 people (154 unemployed)

#18. Jackson County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,401 people (296 unemployed)

#17. Muhlenberg County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
— 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 10,283 people (697 unemployed)

#16. Knox County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%
— 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 10,098 people (707 unemployed)

#15. Floyd County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%
— 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 11,383 people (794 unemployed)

#14. Fulton County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
— 1-month change: Up 1.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 2.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,209 people (156 unemployed)

#13. Johnson County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
— 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,959 people (496 unemployed)

#12. Carter County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
— 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 9,735 people (705 unemployed)

#11. Lewis County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.4%
— 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,408 people (324 unemployed)

#10. Clay County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.5%
— 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 5,264 people (394 unemployed)

#9. Owsley County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.6%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 1,176 people (89 unemployed)

#8. Knott County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.6%
— 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 4,321 people (329 unemployed)

#7. Letcher County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.8%
— 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,148 people (482 unemployed)

#6. Elliott County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.0%
— 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
– Total labor force: 1,921 people (154 unemployed)

#5. Leslie County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.4%
— 1-month change: No change
— 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,556 people (215 unemployed)

#4. Breathitt County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.9%
— 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 3,197 people (283 unemployed)

#3. Harlan County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.9%
— 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 2.4 percentage points
– Total labor force: 6,714 people (596 unemployed)

#2. Magoffin County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 10.1%
— 1-month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
– Total labor force: 3,333 people (336 unemployed)

#1. Martin County

– October unemployment rate (preliminary): 10.6%
— 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
— 1-year change: Up 2.5 percentage points
– Total labor force: 2,197 people (233 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

You may also like: How syringe exchanges in Kentucky reduce the spread of disease