Unemployment in Kentucky climbed to 10.9 percent in June to a near 26-year high, a new state report finds.
That’s the highest jobless rate for the commonwealth since 11.1 percent was recorded since August 1983 and up 4.5 percentage points over the same period last year.
The
Kentucky Office of Employment and Training issued the report Thursday that found the preliminary unemployment continued to climb in the state, up from the 10.7 percent recorded in May.
“In June 2009, Kentucky's economy continued to deteriorate as nearly every sector endured job losses,” said Dr. Justine Detzel, chief labor market analyst, said in a release issued by the office. “The manufacturing sector suffered the largest employment decline, which is indicative of the prolonged manufacturing slump rippling through the economy. Retrenchment by consumers trickled through the trade, transportation and utilities sector resulting in 1,700 fewer positions in these industries.”
The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose from 9.4 percent in May 2009 to 9.5 percent in June 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The monthly estimate of the number of unemployed Kentuckians for June 2009 was 226,122, up 4,862 from the 221,260 Kentuckians unemployed in May 2009, and up 96,338 from the 129,784 unemployed in June 2008.
