January unemployment in Kentucky sees decline

January unemployment in Kentucky is down slightly from the previous month and year.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for January was 4.3 percent. That is down from the 4.5 percent average reported in December, and down .5 percent from the January 2025 average of 4.8 percent.

Kentucky’s unemployment average for January came in tied with the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor says at 4.3 percent is up from the 4 percent rate reported in January 2025.

The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw a decrease of 5,476 people from December to January, bringing the total civilian labor force to 2,114,515 people.

The Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Educational and Health Services, Manufacturing, Professional and Business Services, Financial Activities, Government, and Other Services sectors made gains from December into January. The Information Services, Mining and Logging, Construction, and Leisure and Hospitality sectors saw decreases.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website, kystats.ky.gov, for more about unemployment figures and labor market information.