Kentucky's preliminary September figure of 4.8 percent was lower than every county in the Purchase Area except Calloway County, which achieved four percent unemployment, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training. Calloway's figure is an improvement from 4.1 percent in August, and 4.2 percent a year ago.
Other Purchase area county figures included Marshall County at 5.3 percent; Hickman 5.5 percent; McCracken 5.7 percent; Graves 6.3 percent; Fulton 6.6 percent; Carlisle 6.8 percent; and Ballard at 8.3 percent.
Overall, 74 Kentucky counties saw unemployment decrease from August to September, while rates rose in 41 counties. Across the Purchase, rates came down in four counties, rose in one, and stayed the same in three counties.
Compared to a year ago, unemployment rates increased in six Purchase counties, but went down in Calloway and Fulton counties.
Statewide, unemployment is highest in Magoffin County at 15.5 percent, followed by Leslie County at 12.5 and Letcher County at 11.3 percent.
Lowest unemployment numbers were recorded in Oldham and Woodford counties at 3.1 percent.
Preliminary numbers are computed before seasonal adjustments are made. Kentucky's seasonally adjusted rate for September is 5.0 percent, the same as the national unemployment rate.
On the Net:
Unemployment figures by countyUnemployment map of Kentucky counties
