Mary Potter
Thursday, March 17, 2016 3:39 pm

Unemployment rates in Kentucky above national average

February 2016 unemployment rates in Kentucky stand at 5.8%, a half a percentage point (.5%) higher than the same month last year. Nationally, the unemployment rate stands at 4.3%

Some job sectors grew while others declined. Education, health services, construction, leisure and hospitality sectors all added jobs.

According to Kim Brannock of the Education Cabinet:

"Nonfarm data is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Employment Statistics program. According to this survey, four of Kentucky's 11 major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) job sectors registered gains in employment, while five declined and two remained the same.

Kentucky's educational and health services sector posted a gain of 3,800 positions in February 2016, and an overall increase of 10,900 jobs or more than 4 percent from a year ago. Health care jobs, which account for nearly 90 percent of employment in this sector, expanded by 3,000 positions over the year.

The construction sector jumped by 2,200 jobs in February 2016 from a month ago. Since February 2015, construction jobs have expanded by 2,700 positions.

Kentucky's leisure and hospitality sector grew by 1,600 jobs in February 2016 from a month ago. Since February last year, the sector has added 3,200 jobs. This sector includes arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services.

Employment in the other services sector, which includes repairs and maintenance, personal care services, and religious organizations, was up by 300 positions in February 2016 from a month ago. This sector decreased by 400 jobs from a year ago.

The trade, transportation, and utilities sector remained flat in February 2016 from a month ago, but expanded substantially with the gain of 12,100 jobs from a year ago. This is the largest sector in Kentucky accounting for one-fifth of all nonfarm jobs. Retail trade added 1,900 jobs over the previous month, but both wholesale trade and transportation and warehousing declined in employment.

The information sector declined by 1,100 positions from a year ago. The industries in this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing; motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications.

The financial activities sector posted a decline of 300 jobs in February 2016. The sector has expanded by 2.4 percent during the last 12-months with the addition of 2,200 jobs.

Employment in the mining and logging sector decreased by 600 positions in February 2016 from a month ago. The industry has declined by 3,200 positions or nearly 21 percent from a year ago.

Kentucky's manufacturing sector lost 900 jobs in February 2016 compared to the previous month. Since February 2015, employment in manufacturing has increased by 4,100. The month-to-month decline was in the durable goods subsector, down 1,900, while nondurable goods industries added 1,000 jobs.

The government sector, which includes public education, public administration agencies and state-owned hospitals, decreased by 1,300 jobs in February 2016. The sector posted a drop of 5,000 jobs compared to February 2015.

Kentucky's professional and business services lost 4,400 positions in February 2016 from a month ago. Year-over-year, there was a substantial gain of 3,300 jobs. This category includes establishments engaged in services that support the day-to-day activities of other organizations, including temporary employment services and payroll processing.

Civilian labor force statistics include nonmilitary workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.

Kentucky's statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events, such as weather changes, harvests, holidays and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. However, because of the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted."