Clinton County’s unemployment rate took a dramatic increase in July as compared to the previous month of June, climbing back into the double-digit ranks after having spent several months below the 10 percent rate.

The local jobless rate in July was listed at 10.3 percent, compared with the 8.7 percent rate for June, 2012, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

The July 2012 rate was also higher than the rate for Clinton County reported a year earlier, in July 2011, when the local jobless rate was reported to be 9.3 percent.

In Clinton County, there are 4,948 civilian adults in the labor force, meaning that in July, 2012, there were 4,436 who were working, leaving 512 unemployed.

Other area counties within the 10 county Lake Cumberland Area Development District, and the respective unemployment rate for each in July, 2012, were: Cumberland (345), Rullseel (8.2), Adair (8.1), Pulaski (9.4) and Wayne (12.6).

Unemployment rates fell in 97 Kentucky counties between July 2011 and July 2012, while 18 county rates increased and five stayed the same.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.9 percent. It was followed by Fayette and Franklin counties, 6.6 percent each; Oldham and Union counties, 6.7 percent each; Scott and Shelby counties, 6.8 percent each; Hancock County, 6.9 percent; and Daviess, Jessamine, Madison and Owen counties, 7.1 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.7 percent. It was followed by Futon County, 15.4 percent; Harlan County, 14.6 percent; Jackson County, 14.4 percent; Leslie County, 14.3 percent; Bell County, 13.9 percent; Wolfe County, 13.7 percent; McCreary County, 13.6 percent; Letcher County, 13.5 percent; and Knott County, 13.3 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. 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.