Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lexington fell 0.2 percentage points in December 2011 to 7.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.2 percentage points lower than the Kentucky rate. The unemployment rate in Lexington peaked in September 2009 at 9.2% and is now 1.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.5% in August 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Lexington unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Kentucky	9.1%	-0.3	-1.2
Lexington	7.9%	-0.2	-1.2

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lexington, Kentucky, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lexington, Kentucky Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lexington peaked in December 2010 at 22,366. There are now 3,048 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 18,304 in August 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,014. Lexington employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lexington, Kentucky) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Lexington	19,318	-550	-3,048

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lexington, Kentucky Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Kentucky Unemployment Rate	Lexington Unemployment Rate	Lexington Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	9.1%	7.9%	19,318
November 2011	8.7%	9.4%	8.1%	19,868
October 2011	8.9%	9.6%	8.0%	19,785
September 2011	9.0%	9.7%	7.9%	19,251
August 2011	9.1%	9.5%	7.5%	18,304
July 2011	9.1%	9.5%	7.6%	18,555
June 2011	9.1%	9.6%	7.7%	18,699
May 2011	9.0%	9.8%	7.8%	19,168
April 2011	9.0%	10.0%	8.1%	19,865
March 2011	8.9%	10.2%	8.3%	20,329
February 2011	9.0%	10.4%	8.7%	21,340
January 2011	9.1%	10.4%	9.0%	22,115