FRANKFORT, Ky. (March. 10, 2022) —Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary January 2022
unemployment rate was 4.4%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics
(KYSTATS), an agency within the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
(EWDC).
The preliminary January 2022
jobless rate was down 0.2 percentage points from the 4.6% reported in December
2021 and down 0.4 percentage points from the 4.8% recorded for the state one
year ago.
The U.S. seasonally adjusted
jobless rate for January 2022 was 4%, up from the 3.9% reported in December
2021, 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
2,053,986 in January 2022, an increase of 2,735 individuals from December 2021.
The number of people employed in January increased by 5,809 to 1,963,339 while
the number of unemployed decreased by 3,074 to 90,647.
“January’s employment numbers—along
with revised estimates for 2021—show that Kentucky’s workers have been steadily
returning to the labor force over the past year,” said University of Kentucky’s
Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) Director Mike Clark, Ph.D.
“Improved distribution of the Coronavirus vaccines, the reopening of schools,
and higher wages paid by employers have likely contributed to many workers
reentering the labor market. The falling unemployment rate suggests that many
of these returning workers are finding jobs quickly.”
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 rose by 6,200
jobs in January 2022 compared to December 2021. Kentucky’s nonfarm employment
was up 49,200 jobs or 2.6% compared to January 2021.
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 11 major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS) job sectors in January 2022 while four declined.
Employment in the professional and
business services sector increased by 4,600 jobs or 2.1% in January 2022.
Employment fell by 500 jobs in the professional, scientific and technical
services subsector and by 200 jobs in the management of companies subsector.
The administrative and support and waste management subsector gained 5,300
jobs. Employment in this sector was up 7,500 or 3.5% since January 2021.
“After stalling for much of 2021,
employment in the professional and business services jumped in January, adding
4,600 jobs,” said Clark.
The trade, transportation and
utilities sector grew by 1,500 positions from December 2021 to January 2022.
Retail trade employment was up 1,000 jobs in January. Wholesale trade lost 100
positions. Transportation, warehousing and utilities added 600 jobs. Since
January 2021, employment in this sector has increased by 11,800 jobs or 2.9%.
Kentucky’s educational and health
services sector gained 1,400 jobs in January 2022. The educational services
subsector added 800 positions from December to January while the health care
and social assistance subsector gained 600 positions. Since last January, this
sector has increased by 3,100 jobs or 1.1%.
Employment in Kentucky’s leisure
and hospitality sector increased by 1,100 positions from December 2021 to
January 2022, a gain of 0.6%. This sector was up 21,900 jobs or 12.6% compared
to January 2021. The arts, entertainment and recreation subsector added 800
positions and the accommodations and food services subsector added 300 jobs in
January.
The information services sector
gained 300 jobs from December to January. 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 was up
by 800 or 3.9% from one year ago.
The number of jobs in Kentucky’s
mining and logging sector grew by 100 from December 2021 to January 2022. This
sector was unchanged compared to one year ago.
Employment in the other services
sector increased by 100 jobs in January 2022 and was up 800 positions since
January 2021. The other services sector includes repairs and maintenance,
personal care services, and religious organizations.
Employment in the financial
activities sector declined by 300 positions in January 2022. All of the
employment losses were in the finance and insurance subsector, which lost 300
jobs from December 2021 to January 2022. The real estate, rental, and leasing
subsector was unchanged from December to January. Employment in the financial
activities sector was unchanged compared to last January.
Construction employment fell by 500
jobs in January 2022, or 0.6% from December. The construction sector was up 300
positions or 0.4% from one year ago.
The government sector employment
was down by 800 jobs from December 2021 to January 2022. This represents a
decrease of 0.3% from December 2021. Federal government employment increased by
100 jobs. Employment was down by 1,800 jobs in state government and up by 900
jobs in local government. Total government employment was up 4,800 positions or
1.6% compared to January 2021.
Kentucky’s manufacturers’ payrolls
were down 1,300 positions from December 2021 to January 2022. This represents a
loss of 0.5%. The durable goods subsector decreased by 1,700 or 1.1% from
December to January. Employment in non-durable goods rose by 400 positions from
December to January. Kentucky’s manufacturing employment was down 1,800
positions or 0.7% since January 2021.
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.