Clinton County’s trend of higher unemployment over late 2010 continued it’s trend the first month of this year, with the local jobless rate increasing by about two percent over last December.

The local unemployment rate was 12.5 in January, up from just over 10 percent the previous month, according to figures released from the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training.

Clinton County’s rate was the fourth lowest in the 10-county Lake Cumberland area, but well above the single-digit rates recorded during most of 2010.

The overall jobless rate in the Lake Cumberland area was 12.9 percent in January, up from 11.3 percent in December. In January 2010, the rate for the 10-county area was 13.1 percent.

The highest rate in the area was 17.1 percent in McCreary County, while Taylor County had the lowest rate of 11.2 percent. There was no county in the area with single-digit unemployment for the first month of the year.

Other area rates included: Adair County, 12.1 percent; Casey County, 12.2 percent; Cumberland County, 14.5 percent; Green County, 11.7 percent; Pulaski and Russell counties, 12.6 percent each; and Wayne County, 15.2 percent.

Webster County recorded the state’s lowest jobless rate at 8.8 percent. It was followed by Fayette County, 8.7 percent; Woodford County, 9 percent; Boone and Oldham counties, 9.1 percent each; and Carlisle and Madison counties at 9.6 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment at 21 percent. It was followed by Menifee County, 20.2 percent; Jackson County, 19.8 percent; Lewis County, 18.1 percent; and Bath County, 17.2 percent.

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.