Editor's Note: Due to the lapse in federal appropriations, October 2025 data collection did not occur for the CPS, which provides the primary inputs to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics estimation. Concurrent with this news release, substate averages for 2025 are based on the 11 months for which CPS data collection occurred and were published in the BLS time-series database. These 11-month averages are not strictly comparable to annual averages for prior years.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 18, 2026) — Annual 2025 unemployment rates for Kentucky counties were higher in 75 counties, lower in 40 and the same in five (Carlisle, Hart, Mercer, Monroe and Powell) as the comparable, unadjusted 2025 state annual unemployment rate of 4.6%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency within the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.

In 2025, none of Kentucky’s 120 counties had a double-digit annual unemployment rate.

The annual jobless rate for Woodford County was the lowest in the commonwealth in 2025 at 3.5%. It was followed by Fayette and Scott counties, 3.8% each; Boone, Oldham, Shelby and Todd counties, 3.9% each; and Bourbon, Campbell, Harrison, Jessamine, Kenton and Washington counties, 4% each.

Martin County recorded the state’s highest annual unemployment rate in 2025 at 9.1%. It was followed by Magoffin County, 8.8%; Wolfe County, 8.5%; Lewis County, 8.2%; Elliott County, 7.9%; Carter County, 7.3%; Jackson County, 7.1%; Lawrence County, 7%; Menifee County, 6.9%; and Harlan County, 6.8%.

Compared to the national unadjusted 2025 annual rate of 4.3%, 95 Kentucky counties had higher 2025 annual rates, 19 counties were below that rate and six counties (Carroll, Clark, Cumberland, Nicholas, Spencer and Trimble) had the same rate.

In contrast to the monthly national and state data, unemployment statistics for counties are not seasonally adjusted. For more information regarding seasonal fluctuations, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at https://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#why. 

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 statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted to allow for comparisons between United States, state, and counties figures. The statistics in this news release may be revised in the future.

Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at http://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI.