UPDATE: West Kentucky Counties lose ground according to recent report

The Kentucky Labor Force Estimates show every county in West Kentucky above the 6% national unemployment average and over 60% of WKY counties equal to or higher than the statewide average of 6.8% (which has been adjusted upward since our report last week).
Counties with Highest Rates of Unemployment in WKY- Muhlenberg 9.9%, Christian 9.0%, Monroe 8.6%, Caldwell 8.3%, Butler 8.2%, Hopkins 8.1%, Todd 8.1%, McLean 8.0%, Edmonson 7.9%, Metcalfe 7.9%

Counties with Lowest Rates of Unemployment in WKY- Livingston 6.0%, Ballard 6.1%, McCracken 6.2%, Webster 6.2%, Warren 6.2%, Daviess 6.3%, Marshall 6.4%, Henderson 6.4%, Carlisle 6.4%, Simpson 6.5%

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!

According to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development press release:

In July 2007, the jobless rate was 5.5%. In July 2008, it’s 6.7%
From July 2007 to July 2008, government jobs have risen 11,700 jobs.
Professional and business services, which includes temp services, added 700 jobs in the last year.
Since July 2007, jobs in retail, wholesale, transportation and utilities have “jumped” (their verb, not ours) 6,400 jobs.
Education and health services added 400 jobs in July 2008, but over the past year has lost 500 jobs.
Food services and hotel/motels added 700 jobs in the past year.
The financial sector lost 300 jobs in the month of July 2008. Over the past year, this sector has lost 400 jobs.
Real estate jobs have dropped by 300 over last year.
Natural resources and mining also lost 300 jobs.
Construction jobs were down by 700 jobs in the month of July 2008.
Information services, publishing, broadcasting, internet has lost 500 jobs in a year, including 100 in the month of July 2008.
Other employment areas- repair/maintenance, religious organizations, laundries lost 1100 jobs since July 2007.
There are 2,037,254 Kentuckians in the workforce. That’s 4574 fewer workers June 2008 and 6604 fewer than last year at this time.