January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
Download the full PDF for Kentucky
Download the summary PDF for Kentucky
United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Kentucky Employment Snapshot
In January, Kentucky lost 4,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.3 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky added 2,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kentucky added 10,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Kentucky’s private sector lost 4,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky added 3,100 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Kentucky rose by 4,144, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,653.
Kentucky’s labor force participation rate rose to 58.3 percent in January from 58.2 percent and ranks 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.
Kentucky Payroll Employment
Kentucky lost 4,900 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Kentucky added 2,600 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kentucky lost 4,200 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Kentucky added 3,100 jobs. Kentucky private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Professional and Business Services (500) and Manufacturing (0).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (8,100) and Government (3,500).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,500) and Financial Activities (-1,700).
Kentucky Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Kentucky rose to 58.3 percent in January from 58.2 percent in the prior month.
Kentucky ranks 44th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kentucky was 59.1 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 54.7 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.