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
2,055,608 in November 2022, a decrease of 4,516 individuals from October 2022.
The number of people employed in November decreased by 6,557 to 1,973,298 while
the number of unemployed increased by 2,041 to 82,310.
“Kentucky’s unemployment rate rose
from a low of 3.7% over the summer to 4% in November,” said University of
Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) Director Mike
Clark, Ph.D. “More people reported that they were without work and searching
for a job in recent months while fewer reported that they were employed. The
total number of people in the labor force has declined slightly since May
2022.”
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 grew by 100
jobs in November 2022 compared to October 2022. Kentucky’s nonfarm employment
was up 60,500 jobs or 3.2% compared to November 2021.
“Kentucky’s payroll employment was
essentially unchanged in November, suggesting that employers, as a whole, have
slowed hiring,” said Clark. “While employers across several sectors such as
leisure and hospitality and manufacturing added workers, these job gains were
largely offset by losses among firms that provide professional and business
services.”
Nonfarm data is provided by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics
program. According to the survey, employment increased for seven of
Kentucky’s major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
job sectors in November 2022, decreased for two, and was unchanged for two.
Kentucky’s leisure and hospitality
sector grew by 1,200 positions from October 2022 to November 2022, a gain of
0.6%. This sector added 14,200 jobs or 7.5% compared to November 2021.
Employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation subsector increased by 100
jobs from October to November. The accommodations and food services subsector
added 1,100 jobs in November.
Government sector employment
expanded by 1,100 jobs from October 2022 to November 2022. Employment was up by
200 jobs in the federal government; up 500 positions in state government; and
up 400 jobs in local government. Employment in the total government sector grew
by 8,500 positions or 2.8% compared to November 2021.
Kentucky’s manufacturing sector
added 900 positions from October 2022 to November 2022. Durable goods
manufacturers gained 500 jobs in November while non-durable goods manufacturers
added 400 jobs. Kentucky’s manufacturing employment was up 6,800 positions or
2.8% since November 2021.
Employment in Kentucky’s trade,
transportation and utilities sector increased by 600 jobs from October to
November. Employment was up 9,700 jobs or 2.3% compared to a year ago. The
retail trade subsector had 200 more jobs and the transportation, warehousing
and utilities subsector had 1,500 more jobs in November than in October. The
wholesale trade subsector lost 1,100 jobs.
Kentucky’s educational and health
services sector gained 600 positions in November 2022. All of this growth
occurred in the educational services subsector, which was up 600 jobs in
November. Employment in the health care and social assistance subsector was
unchanged in November. Since last November, this sector has grown by 12,600
jobs or 4.5%.
The financial activities sector
grew by 300 jobs from October 2022 to November 2022. Employment was down 200
jobs in the finance and insurance subsector, but up 500 jobs in the real
estate, rental and leasing subsector. The financial activities sector increased
by 1,900 jobs compared to last November.
Construction employment rose by 200
jobs in November 2022 or 0.3% from October, and was up 1,200 positions or 1.5%
from one year ago.
Employment in Kentucky’s mining and
logging sector was unchanged in November. This sector was up 400 jobs from
November 2021.
The number of jobs in the other
services sector did not change in November 2022. This sector had 200 more
positions compared to November 2021. This sector includes repairs and
maintenance, personal care services and religious organizations.
Employment in the information
services sector fell by 200 jobs from October to November. The industries in
this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing;
motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications. The number of jobs in
this sector grew by 900 or 4.3% from one year ago.
Employment in Kentucky’s
professional and business services sector contracted by 4,600 jobs or 2% in
November 2022. Employment was up by 100 jobs in the professional, scientific
and technical services subsector from October to November and down 100 jobs in
the management of companies subsector. The administrative, support and waste
management subsector lost 4,600 jobs. Employment in this sector was up by 4,100
jobs or 1.9% since November 2021.
“Reductions in administrative,
support and waste management jobs during October and November erased most of
the employment gains this subsector saw earlier in the year,” said Clark.
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.
To learn more about Kentucky labor
market information, visit http://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI.