Unemployment rates stayed the same in Whitley County and increased in Laurel, Knox, Bell, and McCreary counties between August and September 2025, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency within the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.
Whitley County’s unemployment rate remained the same at 4.8 percent in August 2025 and 4.8 percent in September 2025. Whitley County’s September 2025 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent lower than the September 2024 unemployment rate.
Laurel County’s unemployment rate increased from 5.5 percent in August 2025 to 5.7 percent in September 2025. Laurel County’s September 2025 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent lower than the September 2024 unemployment rate.
Knox County’s unemployment rate increased from 6.3 percent in August 2025 to 6.5 percent in September 2025. Knox County’s September 2025 unemployment rate was 0.8 percent lower than the September 2024 unemployment rate.
Bell County’s unemployment rate increased from 6.1 percent in August 2025 to 6.4 percent in September 2025. Bell County’s September 2025 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent lower than the September 2024 unemployment rate.
McCreary County’s unemployment rate increased from 5.9 percent in August 2025 to 6.0 percent in September 2025. McCreary County’s September 2025 unemployment rate was 0.2 percent lower than the September 2024 unemployment rate.
Statewide unemployment
Kentucky’s unemployment rate increased from 4.4 percent in August 2025 to 4.5 percent in September 2025. Kentucky’s September 2025 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent lower than the September 2024 unemployment rate.
Unemployment rates fell in 116 counties, rose in Clinton, Wayne, and Ballard counties, and stayed the same in Logan County between September 2024 and September 2025, according to KYSTATS.
Cumberland, Scott, Shelby, and Woodford counties recorded the lowest jobless rates in the commonwealth at 3.7 percent each. They were followed by Fayette and Oldham counties, at 3.8 percent each, and by Boone, Franklin, Kenton, Spencer, Todd, and Washington counties, at 3.9 percent each.
Martin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 8.5 percent. It was followed by Magoffin County, 8.1 percent; Lewis County, 7.5 percent; Elliott and Wolfe counties, 7.2 percent each; Jackson County, 6.9 percent; Harlan County, 6.7 percent; Carter and Lawrence counties, 6.6 percent each; and Knox County, 6.5 percent.
Kentucky’s county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted because of small sample sizes.
The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 4.5 percent for September 2025, and 4.3 percent for the nation. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.7 percent from August 2025 to September 2025.
Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.
Whitley County has a civilian labor force of 16,029 people with 15,256 employed and 773 unemployed. Statewide, Kentucky has a civilian labor force of 2,112,894 people with 2,018,350 employed and 95,544 unemployed.
Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at kystats.ky.gov.
