Unemployment rates fall in 97 counties in July

FRANKFORT, Ky. - New county-level unemployment rates show widespread improvement across Kentucky in July.

The Office of Employment and Training reported Thursday that jobless rates improved in 97 counties. Rates worsened in 18 others and were unchanged in five.

Woodford County had the lowest jobless rate at 5.9 percent. Hancock, Fayette, Franklin, Oldham, Scott, Shelby and Union counties were all below 7 percent.

Magoffin County's 16.7 percent jobless rate was the worst in the state. Fulton County was at 15.4 percent. Harlan, Jackson and Leslie counties were above 14 percent.

The unemployment rate in Northern Kentucky fell from 9.1 percent to 7.6 percent during the period.