The jobless rate in Clinton County experienced a slight decrease last month from the previous month, and according to the latest statistics, is nearly a full percentage point lower than where it was a year ago.

Clinton County’s unemployment rate for March, 2012,was listed as 10.5 percent, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

That rate compares to the 10.9 percent that was listed for Clinton County the previous month in February, 2012. The March, 2012 rate was nearly a full percentage point lower than the 11.3 jobless rate reported a year ago in March, 2011.

Clinton County has some 4,887 residents in the civilian labor force pool, with 4,373 being employed, leaving 514 in the ranks of unemployed.

Clinton County was one of 104 Kentucky counties that saw jobless rates fall between March 2011 and March 2012.

Other counties in the Lake Cumberland region, and the respective unemployment rate for each, included: Adair (9.0), Cumberland (13.2) Russell (10.1), Pulaski (10.1) and Wayne (13.8).

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 6.2 percent. It was followed by Oldham County, 6.7 percent; Fayette County, 6.8 percent; Shelby County, 6.9 percent; Union County, 7.1 percent; Hancock County, 7.3 percent, Daviess and Ohio counties, 7.4 percent each; and Caldwell, Franklin, Henderson and Madison counties, 7.6 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 17.5 percent. It was followed by Fulton County, 17.1 percent; Jackson County, 16.0 percent, Menifee County, 15.5 percent; Bell, Morgan and Wolfe counties, 14.4 percent each; Clay County, 14.2 percent; and Leslie and McCreary counties, 14.1 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 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. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted to allow for comparisons between United States, state and county figures.

Learn more about the Office of Employment and Training at www.workforce.ky.gov.