Unemployment in Kentucky Up to 10.1 Percent

Kentucky’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 10.1 percent in September. That is up from a revised figure of 10 percent for the previous month, the state’s Office of Employment and Training said.

According to the Louisville Business Courier, the jobless rate is better than last year’s at this time, which was 10.8 percent, but is now at its highest level since May when it was 10.4 percent.

Justine Detzel, the office’s chief labor market analyst, said “Kentucky’s economy continued to stagnate in September” and added it was largely the result of government cutbacks and layoffs.

The Business Journal reports seven of 11 major nonfarm job categories saw an increase in jobs September and that overall nonfarm payrolls increased by 1,700 jobs.

The sector with the most growth was leisure and hospitality, which added 3,100 jobs in September and has added a total of 3,500 jobs in the last year.