Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lexington rose 0.1 percentage points in July 2019 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points lower than the Kentucky rate. The unemployment rate in Lexington peaked in June 2009 at 8.8% and is now 5.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in February 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Lexington unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.2
Kentucky	4.3%	+0.2	-0.1
Lexington	3.4%	+0.1	-0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with July 2019 data as August 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 July 2009 at 20,993. There are now 11,736 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,765 in March 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 492. Lexington employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lexington, Kentucky) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Lexington	9,257	+287	-135

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lexington, Kentucky Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Kentucky Unemployment Rate	Lexington Unemployment Rate	Lexington Unemployed
September 2019	3.5%	—	—	—
August 2019	3.7%	4.4%	—	—
July 2019	3.7%	4.3%	3.4%	9,257
June 2019	3.7%	4.1%	3.3%	8,970
May 2019	3.6%	4.0%	3.2%	8,798
April 2019	3.6%	4.0%	3.2%	8,788
March 2019	3.8%	4.0%	3.2%	8,765
February 2019	3.8%	4.1%	3.2%	8,769
January 2019	4.0%	4.2%	3.3%	9,041
December 2018	3.9%	4.3%	3.4%	9,178
November 2018	3.7%	4.3%	3.4%	9,173
October 2018	3.8%	4.3%	3.4%	9,185