Clinton County’s unemployment rate continues to hover just under the double-digit mark, but did experience a slight decrease from the prior month.

In May, Clinton County posted a jobless rate of 9.2 percent, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

That 9.2 percent rate compared with a slightly higher rate of 9.9 percent the previous month, April, 2011, but was still higher than was reported here a year ago when a rate of 8.9 percent was listed for May, 2010.

Clinton County has an adult labor workforce of 4,941 potential workers, meaning that 4,485 were employed in May, 2011, leaving 456 without jobs.

Clinton County was one of 16 counties that have experienced a jump in unemployment between May, 2011 and May, 2010. During that same time period, 99 counties experienced a decrease in the jobless rate, while five counties remained the same.

In the 10 county Lake Cumberland region, 10.3 percent of the available workforce of 97,624 adults were unemployed.

Among the other Lake Cumberland counties and the respective unemployment rates for May, 2011, were: Cumberland (11.4), Adair (9.6), Pulaski (10.0), Wayne (12.1) and Russell (9.3).

Fayette County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 7.3 percent. It was followed by Calloway and Oldham counties, 7.5 percent each; Hancock and Woodford counties, 7.6 percent each; Caldwell and Warren counties, 7.7 percent each; Union County, 7.8 percent; and Hardin and Ohio counties, 8 percent each.

Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 17.4 percent. It was followed by Metcalfe County, 16.3 percent; Magoffin County, 15.9 percent; McCreary County, 14.9 percent; Clay County, 14.5 percent; Lewis County, 13.9 percent; Fulton County, 13.6 percent; and Menifee, Nelson and Rockcastle counties, 13.3 percent each.

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 county figures.