Unemployment rate up in the Purchase and statewide in September

Unemployment in September was up across the Commonwealth and here in the Purchase region, based on new numbers from the state.

The unemployment rate jumped almost one percent statewide to 4.9 percent, up from 4 percent one year ago. Here in the Purchase region from 2023 to 2024, the rate climbed at a similar rate from 4.0 to 4.8 percent, according to information released by the Kentucky Center for Statistics. 

Rates increased in all of Kentucky's 120 counties. The lowest unemployment rate in the Purchase was Marshall County at 4.3 percent, which was up .7 percent year over year. The highest unemployment rate in the region was Fulton County at 5.9 percent, up from 5.1 percent last year. The largest percentage increase in unemployment was in Calloway County, up 1.1 percent from 4.1 to 5.2 percent.

The lowest rate in the state was Cumberland County at 3.7 percent, while the highest rate was once again in Magoffin County at 11.5 percent.

See the full breakdown county by county here.