Clinton County was one of only 21 counties across Kentucky that saw its jobless rate increase, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

According to the latest figures released, Clinton County’s December unemployment rate was 9.1 percent, compared with 8.6 percent in November, 2012, representing a one-half percent increase in the number of unemployed locally.

Those rates were still lower than the rate for Clinton County a year ago, when the December, 2011 rate was listed as 10.1 percent.

Across the entire Lake Cumberland Area Development District, comprised of 10 counties, the jobless rate among adults was listed as 8.9 percent for December, 2012.

Among those counties include, along with the respective jobless rate for December, 2012: Cumberland (10.4), Adair (8.9), Russell (9.0) and Wayne (11.7).

Unemployment rates fell in 97 Kentucky counties between December 2011 and December 2012, while 21 county rates increased and two stayed the same.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.4 percent. It was followed by

Fayette and Union counties, 5.9 percent each; Franklin and Oldham counties, 6.1 percent each; Madison and Shelby counties, 6.2 percent each; Scott County, 6.3 percent; Jessamine County, 6.4 percent; and Daviess and Warren counties, 6.5 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.9 percent. It was followed by Fulton County, 15. 8 percent; Leslie County, 14.6 percent; Letcher County, 14 percent; Knott County, 13.8 percent; Bell, Harlan and Wolfe counties 13.5 percent; Jackson County, 12.9 percent; and McCreary and Perry counties, 12.7 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 Kentucky labor market information at www.kylmi.ky.gov.