Clinton County’s unemployment rate dropped significantly during the most recent reporting span, coming in at 8.9 percent for April, 2013, compared to 10.5 percent the previous month, March, 2013.

The most recent rate was, however, just slightly higher than the local rate for one year ago when Clinton County posted a jobless rate of 8.6 percent, according to the most recent figures released by the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

With a civilian work force of 4,774 in Clinton County, 4,350 were listed as being employed, leaving 424 in the ranks of unemployed for April, 2013.

Other area counties in the Lake Cumberland area, along with the jobless rate for each county, included: Cumberland (10.8), Adair (7.7), Russell (9.7) Pulaski (9.2) and Wayne (10.7).

Unemployment rates decreased in 49 Kentucky counties between April 2012 and April 2013, while 63 county rates rose and eight stayed the same.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.4 percent. It was followed by Oldham County, 5.6 percent; Fayette County, 5.9 percent; Ohio and Shelby counties, 6 percent each; Daviess and Scott counties, 6.1 percent each; Franklin and Hancock counties, 6.2 percent each; and Boone, Henderson, Madison and Spencer counties, 6.3 percent.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.9 percent. It was followed by Leslie County, 15.8 percent; Fulton County, 15.6 percent; Harlan County, 15.5 percent; Letcher County, 15.3 percent; Bell County, 14.2 percent; Knott County, 14.1 percent; Jackson County, 13.3 percent; Menifee County, 13.1 percent; and McCreary and Perry counties, 12.7 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.