Clinton County’s jobless rate took a hefty jump in the wrong direction between December 2011 and November, increasing by nearly a full percentage point and nearing the double-digit mark once again, according to the latest statistics released last week.
The rate posted for December of last year showed that 9.7 percent of the local workforce were in the “unemployed” category, compared with 9.0 percent a month earlier in November.
Those rates were the latest to be compiled by the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
According to the Cabinet, Clinton County’s 9.7 percent rate for December is figured on an eligible adult workforce of 4,949, with 4,471 on the job and 478 being out of work.
Still, the jobless rate is somewhat lower than a year ago, according to the Cabinet, with Clinton County’s unemployment rate in December, 2010, being listed as slightly higher at 10.1 percent.
During that same 12 month comparison between December 2011 and December 2010, Clinton County was one of 114 Kentucky Counties that experienced lower jobless rates, while six Kentucky Counties saw rate increases.
Other counties in the Lake Cumberland region, and the respective unemployment rates for December, 2011, were: Cumberland (11.0), Russell (9.5), Adair (9.8), Wayne (11.9).
Across Kentucky, Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 6.1 percent.
It was followed by Fayette County, 6.5 percent; Boone County, 6.9 percent; Ohio and Warren counties, 7 percent each; Madison and Shelby counties, 7.1 percent each; Caldwell, Franklin, Larue and Oldham counties, 7.2 percent each.
Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 15.2 percent. It was followed by Fulton County, 14.9 percent; Magoffin County, 14.4 percent; Menifee County, 13.8 percent; Meade County, 13.7 percent; McCreary County, 13.6 percent; Bell County, 12.9 percent; Clay County, 12.8 percent; and Lewis and Wolfe counties, 12.6 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.