Kentucky’s annual unemployment lowest in nearly 20 years

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ)- 2017 unemployment numbers are in and they are encouraging.

Kentucky’s annual unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in 2017 from 5.1% in 2016, which is the lowest annual jobless rate for the start since 2000 (4.2%).

The national annual unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in 2017 from 4.9% in 2016.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the number of employed Kentuckians from 2017 to be 1,952,066, which is up by 42, 908 since 2016.

The numbers were down for unemployed Kentuckians in 2017 compared to 2016; 100,302 from 103,121.

The estimated number of Kentuckians in the civilian labor force was 2,052,368, which is up 40,089 compared to 2016.

Kentucky’s trade, transportation and utilities sector, which is the state’s largest sector based on employment, increased by 4,100 jobs last year.

The educational and health services sector rose by 3,900 jobs in 2017 with an increase in jobs for the healthcare and social assistance sub-sector of 3,800 jobs and no change in the employment in educational services.

3,100 positions were added to the leisure and hospitality sector in 2017.

Kentucky’s manufacturing sector grew by 1,900 jobs last year with durable manufacturing adding around 600 jobs and non-durable manufacturing adding around 1,200 jobs.

Other services, which include repair and maintenance; personal and laundry services; and religious, civic, and professional organizations, added 700 jobs in 2017.

Kentucky’s construction sector grew by 400 jobs in 2017.

The financial activities sector lost 100 jobs in 2017.

The information sector, which includes establishments involved in publishing, Internet activities, data processing, broadcasting and news syndication, decreased by 200 jobs in 2017.

The government sector, which includes federal, state and local employment in public education, public administration agencies and state-owned hospitals, lost 400 jobs last year.

The mining and logging sector, which includes forestry; oil and gas extraction; and support activities for mining,   dropped by 200 jobs in 2017.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and show trends rather than an actual count.

Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians actively seeking work.