News
Kentucky’s Jobless Rate Stays At 5 Percent In March
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky officials say the state’s unemployment rate stayed at 5 percent in March, which was unchanged from the prior month.
The state Office of Employment and Training said Thursday that last month’s seasonally adjusted rate was down slightly from the 5.1 percent statewide rate in March 2016. They say last month’s preliminary rate was above the national 4.5 percent jobless rate in March.
State officials say Kentucky’s manufacturing sector had the largest month-to-month expansion in March 2017, growing by 2,800 positions, or 1.1 percent, from the prior month.
They say the trade, transportation and utilities sector grew by 1,600 jobs last month.
The state’s construction sector lost 2,000 jobs last month. But since March 2016, the sector has added 2,900 jobs, growing by 3.8 percent.