Kentucky’s preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October 2024 was 5 percent, according to the Kentucky Statistics Center.

The preliminary October 2024 unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points from September 2024 and 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The US seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2024 was 4.1%, which was unchanged from September 2024, according to the US Department of Labor.

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, are based on estimates from the Current Household Population Survey. The survey is designed to measure trends in the number of people working and includes agricultural jobs and the self-employed.

Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,075,061 in October 2024, an increase of 6,030 people from September 2024. The number of people employed in October increased by 4,631 to 1,972,065, while the number of unemployed people increased by 1,399 at 102.99.

“October marks the eighth consecutive month that Kentucky has seen both the number of employees and the labor force increase,” said Director Mike Clark, Ph.D. of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER). “The unemployment rate in the state has increased, but as noted in recent months, the increase was due to more people entering the labor market, not fewer people working.”

In a separate federal survey of business establishments that excludes agriculture jobs and self-employment, seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls in Kentucky fell by 2,000 jobs to 2,043,900 in October 2024 compared to September 2024. Non-farm employment in Kentucky increased by 18.109% of jobs. compared to October 2023.

“While the household survey indicated that more Kentucky residents were employed, the business survey indicated that Kentucky business employment decreased somewhat in October,” Clark said. “It is not unusual for the two surveys to give different employment figures in a single month.”

Nonfarm data are provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Labor Statistics program. According to the survey, employment increased for four of Kentucky’s major North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) nonfarm payrolls in October 2024, decreased for five and was unchanged for two.

Kentucky’s manufacturing sector grew by 1,400 jobs from September 2024 to October 2024. Employment grew by 1,200 in the durable goods manufacturing subsector and 200 jobs in the nondurable goods manufacturing subsector . Manufacturing employment in Kentucky decreased by 700 positions or 0.3% from October 2023.

The education and health services sector grew by 1,000 jobs in October 2024. Employment in the health and social care subsector increased by 600 jobs from September to October. The educational services subsector added 400 jobs. Since last October, this sector has grown by 15,600 jobs or 5.1%.

The construction sector added 900 jobs from September 2024 to October 2024 and was up 1,800 jobs or 2% from a year ago.

“In October, construction employment in Kentucky rebounded from the lower levels reported for August and September,” Clark said. “Construction activity and employment varies more from month to month due to changes in weather.”

The other services sector grew by 100 jobs from September to October. This sector had 500 more jobs in October 2024 compared to October 2023. This sector includes repair and maintenance, personal care services and religious organizations.

Employment in Kentucky’s intelligence services sector was flat from September to October. Industries in this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing; films and broadcasting; and telecommunications. The number of jobs in this sector fell by 1,000 from a year ago.

Government sector employment was unchanged from September 2024 to October 2024. The number of jobs fell by 200 jobs in the federal government; was unchanged in the government of the state; and increased by 200 local government jobs. Total government jobs increased by 2,000 positions or 0.6% from October 2023.

The number of jobs in the state’s mining and forestry sector fell by 100 jobs in October. This sector had 600 more jobs in October 2024 compared to October 2023.

Employment in the financial activities sector decreased by 300 positions from September 2024 to October 2024. Employment in the finance and insurance subsector remained unchanged. Employment in the real estate, rental and leasing subsector fell by 300 jobs. This sector had 100 fewer jobs than in October 2023.

The leisure and hospitality sector lost 1,100 positions in October. This sector reported 800 more jobs in October than a year ago. The lodging and food services subsector fell by 900 positions in October. The arts, entertainment and recreation subsector fell by 200 jobs from September to October.

Employment in the trade, transportation and utilities sector fell by 1,200 jobs from September to October and was down 800 jobs from a year ago. Among the subsectors, employment increased by 300 jobs in wholesale trade; cutting 800 retail jobs; and declined 700 positions in transportation, storage and utilities.

Kentucky’s professional and business services sector decreased by 2,700 jobs in October 2024. From September to October, employment decreased by 800 jobs in the professional, scientific, and technical services subsector; remained unchanged in the subsector of company management; and decreased by 1,900 jobs in the administration, support and waste management subsector. The sector is down 600 positions from October 2023.

“Employment in the administrative, support and waste management subsector in Kentucky has declined in each of the past five months, mirroring the national trend,” Clark said. “Much of the national decline is due to a reduction in the use of temporary help services.”

Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively looking for work. That doesn’t include unemployed Kentuckians who haven’t looked for a job in the past four weeks.

The Kentucky unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. Employment statistics fluctuate greatly due to seasonal events such as weather changes, harvests, holidays, and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments remove these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. However, due to the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Visit Kentucky Center for Statistics website to learn more about Kentucky labor market information.

Kentucky Cabinet for Education and Labor