Unemployment Rate in Kentucky
ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
Unemployment Rate
4.8% −8.8% vs nat'l
Rank #26 of 52
How Kentucky Compares
Kentucky
4.8%
National
5.3%
8.8% below
State Ranking
| Rank | State | Value |
|---|---|---|
| #23 | Ohio | 4.7% |
| #24 | Florida | 4.8% |
| #25 | South Carolina | 4.8% |
| #26 | Kentucky | 4.8% |
| #27 | Maryland | 4.8% |
| #28 | Arkansas | 4.9% |
| #29 | Oklahoma | 4.9% |
Highest Unemployment Counties in Kentucky
| # | County | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Larue County | 1.5% |
| 2 | Ballard County | 1.6% |
| 3 | Anderson County | 2.2% |
| 4 | Henderson County | 2.5% |
| 5 | Woodford County | 2.5% |
| 6 | Bath County | 2.5% |
| 7 | Union County | 2.7% |
| 8 | Lyon County | 2.9% |
| 9 | Hickman County | 3.1% |
| 10 | Morgan County | 3.1% |
Lowest Unemployment Counties in Kentucky
| # | County | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | Wolfe County | 13.1% |
| 119 | Owsley County | 12.6% |
| 118 | Bell County | 10.1% |
| 117 | Harlan County | 9.5% |
| 116 | Breathitt County | 9.3% |
| 115 | Clay County | 9.3% |
| 114 | Knott County | 9.3% |
| 113 | Magoffin County | 9.0% |
| 112 | Casey County | 8.9% |
| 111 | Knox County | 8.1% |
Unemployment Rate in Kentucky
Kentucky has a unemployment rate of 4.8%, ranking #26 of 52 among all 52 states and territories. This is 8.8% below the national value of 5.3%.
Across Kentucky's 120 counties, unemployment rate ranges from 13.1% to 1.5%. The county with the highest value is Larue County at 1.5%.
Percentage of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
About this data
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). All values are estimates derived from survey samples and are subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.