FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 21, 2026) — Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary April 2026 unemployment rate was 4.3%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency within the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.

The preliminary April 2026 jobless rate was up from the 4.2% reported in March but was down 0.4 percentage points from one year ago.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for April 2026 was 4.3%, which was unchanged from March and up from the 4.2% recorded in April 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, are based upon estimates from the Current Population Survey of households. The survey is designed to measure trends in the number of people working and includes jobs in agriculture and individuals who are self-employed.

Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,097,526 in April 2026, a decrease of 6,007 individuals from March. The number of people employed in April was 2,007,943, a decline of 7,569 from March. The number of unemployed was 89,583, an increase of 1,562 from March.

“Kentucky’s unemployment rate edged up slightly from 4.2% to 4.3% in April,” said University of Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) Director Mike Clark, Ph.D. “The rate increased as fewer people reported being employed in April and more people reported looking for a job. The decrease in employment was larger than the increase in unemployment, suggesting that many of those who are no longer employed as of April have left the labor market. Kentucky’s labor force has been trending downward since the beginning of the year.”

In a separate federal survey of business establishments that excludes jobs in agriculture and people who are self-employed, Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 2,000 jobs to 2,035,300 in April compared to March. Kentucky’s nonfarm employment was down 4,200 jobs or 0.2% compared to April 2025.

“Businesses reported an uptick in employment for April,” said Clark. “Most of the additional jobs were in the trade, transportation and utilities sector.”

Nonfarm data is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics program. According to the survey, employment increased from March to April for nine of Kentucky’s major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) job sectors and decreased for two.

Kentucky’s trade, transportation and utilities sector increased by 1,100 positions from March to April. Employment was up 1,400 jobs in the wholesale trade subsector; down 2,100 jobs in retail trade; and up 1,800 positions in transportation, warehousing and utilities. The sector had 2,300 fewer jobs compared to a year ago.

The other services sector added 900 jobs from March to April and 1,200 jobs compared to one year ago. This sector includes repairs and maintenance, personal care services and religious organizations.

The educational and health services sector reported 600 more jobs in April 2026. Employment was up 300 jobs in the health care and social assistance subsector from March to April and up 300 positions in the educational services subsector. Since last April, this sector has grown by 3,300 jobs or 1%.

Employment in the construction sector rose by 500 jobs in April compared to March. Construction was up 1,000 jobs or 1.1% from one year ago.

The government sector added 400 jobs from March to April. Jobs numbers were unchanged in federal government; up 200 jobs in state government; and up 200 in local government. The total number of government jobs fell by 1,200 positions or 0.4% compared to April 2025.

Kentucky’s leisure and hospitality sector grew by 400 jobs from March to April. The arts, entertainment and recreation subsector was up 200 jobs and the accommodations and food services subsector added 200 jobs. Employment in this sector was up 1,000 positions from one year ago.

The financial activities sector was up 300 jobs from March to April. Employment rose by 200 jobs in the finance and insurance subsector and was up 100 jobs in the real estate, rental and leasing subsector. This sector had 500 more positions compared to April 2025.

Employment rose by 200 jobs in Kentucky’s information services sector. The industries in this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing; motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications. The sector was down 600 jobs in April 2026 compared to one year ago.

Employment in the state’s mining and logging sector rose by 100 positions in April. This sector had 300 fewer jobs in April 2026 compared to April 2025.

Kentucky’s manufacturing sector lost 1,100 jobs from March to April. Employment was down 900 jobs in the durable goods manufacturing and down 200 jobs in the non-durable goods subsector. Kentucky’s manufacturing employment was down by 5,300 positions compared to April 2025.

“Employment among Kentucky’s durable goods manufacturers has been trending downward since peaking in February 2024,” said Clark. “Since then, this subsector has lost 10,800 jobs, which represents a decrease of 6.4%.”

Employment in Kentucky’s professional and business services sector fell by 1,400 jobs in April 2026. All the job losses were in the administrative, support and waste management subsector, which was down 2,300 jobs. The professional, scientific and technical services subsector was up 900 jobs and management of companies was unchanged. The sector had 1,500 fewer positions compared to April 2025.

“Much of the job losses for April occurred in the administrative, support and waste management subsector, which includes employment services,” said Clark. “The decline in this sector could reflect a reduction in the use of temporary workers.”

Civilian labor force statistics include nonmilitary 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.

Kentucky’s statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. 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. However, due to the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website to learn more about Kentucky labor market information. 

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