Department of Numbers

Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lexington fell 0.0 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points lower than the Kentucky rate. The unemployment rate in Lexington peaked in April 2020 at 15.3% and is now 12.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Lexington unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Kentucky 3.8% +0.1 0.0
Lexington 3.0% 0.0 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lexington, Kentucky, National

Lexington, Kentucky monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lexington, Kentucky Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lexington peaked in April 2020 at 41,709. There are now 33,297 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,220 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 192. Lexington employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lexington, Kentucky) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lexington 8,412 +192 -122

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lexington, Kentucky Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Kentucky
Unemployment Rate
Lexington
Unemployment Rate
Lexington
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 3.8% 3.0% 8,412
April
2023
3.4% 3.7% 3.0% 8,220
March
2023
3.5% 3.8% 3.0% 8,305
February
2023
3.6% 3.9% 3.1% 8,540
January
2023
3.4% 3.9% 3.1% 8,524
December
2022
3.5% 3.9% 3.2% 8,690
November
2022
3.6% 3.9% 3.2% 8,711
October
2022
3.7% 4.0% 3.2% 8,763
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.2% 8,823
August
2022
3.7% 4.0% 3.2% 8,845
July
2022
3.5% 3.9% 3.2% 8,798

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.