Retiring Boomers Helping Push Unemployment Down

Retirements by Baby Boomers are creating job openings for Kentucky's unemployed, helping to push down the state's unemployment rate.

Kentucky Office of Employment and Training economist Manoj Shanker said Thursday that the number of Baby Boomers retiring is higher than the number of young people entering the labor force.

Shanker said that was one of the key factors that triggered a drop in Kentucky's jobless rate to 8.3 percent in April. That was down from 8.6 percent in March.

The job sectors with the most growth for the month included manufacturing with 3,200 additional workers and professional and business services with 2,300 workers added.

Construction was the biggest loser, with 2,400 jobs lost. The leisure and hospitality sector lost 2,200 jobs.