The unemployment rate in all nine counties of the Pennyrile District improved in May as some businesses were allowed to reopen and employees were able to return to work after being shut down due to mandates issued by Governor Andy Beshear in March to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in the state. All nine counties showed a lower jobless rate in May than in April, according to data released by the Kentucky Center for Statistics.
Hopkins County had the highest unemployment rate in the district in May at 13.4 percent, down from 20.3 percent in April, while Lyon County had the lowest jobless rate in the Pennyrile reporting 6.7 percent in May, compared to 11.3 from the previous month.
Christian County had the second-highest unemployment rate in May at 12.2 percent, down from 17.9 percent, followed by Livingston County’s 11.2 percent, down from 15.4 percent in April. Muhlenberg County’s May unemployment rate was 11.9 percent in May, down from 16.1 percent, while the jobless rate in Trigg County dropped to 10.0 percent from 17.1 percent in April.
Caldwell County’s May unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, compared to 14.6 percent in April, followed by Crittenden County’s 7.5 percent, down from 11.8 percent, and Todd County’s jobless rate dropped to 7.4 percent from 11.7 percent in April.
Of the 120 counties in Kentucky, Carlisle County recorded the lowest jobless rate at 5.4 percent, while Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 20.5 percent in May.
Statewide the comparable unemployment rate for May 2020 was 10.9 percent and 13. percent for the nation.
Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work or those who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.
