By MARK MAYNARD, Kentucky Today
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Kentucky’s jobless rate has fallen to its lowest level since the the Bureau of Labor Statistics started collecting employment data 42 years ago.
The unemployment rate fell to 4 percent in March, down from 4.1 percent in February, according to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
The decline put Kentucky’s jobless rate below the national rate, which stood at 4.1 percent in March.
“Kentucky’s employment continued to improve in March with employers adding 1,200 jobs and unemployment rate declining to 4 percent,” said University of Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research Director Chris Bollinger. “However, as the labor market has tightened, growth in payroll employment has slowed somewhat.”
Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,049,934 in March. The trade, transportation and utilities sectors saw the largest increase with 1,700 additional jobs for the month.
“Transportation, warehousing and utilities showed strong employment growth again in March, led by growth in transportation, warehousing and utilities,” Bollinger said.
