Kentucky unemployment holds steady from April to May

Unemployment in Kentucky remained steady going from April into May. 

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the May 2024 unemployment rate was 4.6 percent. That rate is the same as what was reported for April 2024, and is .5 percent higher than the rate reported for May 2023.

The commonwealth’s civilian labor force saw an increase in May, with 6,621 individuals joining the labor force from April. While the number of unemployed people increased by a little less than 1,400, the number of employed people increased by about 5,200, the fourth consecutive month the labor force has seen an increase. The total civilian labor force for Kentucky was reported at about 2,040,000 people.

Kentucky’s unemployment rate trends a little higher than the national average, which for May 2024 was reported at 4 percent. A Bureau of Labor Statistics survey reported that eight of Kentucky’s major non-farm job sectors increased in May while employment decreased in three sectors.

More information on the Kentucky labor market can be found at kystats.ky.gov. County unemployment rates for May should be released by the end of this month.