Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lexington rose 0.2 percentage points in October 2018 to 3.7%. 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 July 2009 at 8.8% and is now 5.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in January 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Lexington unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
Kentucky	4.5%	0.0	-0.1
Lexington	3.7%	+0.2	+0.2

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2018 data as November 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 20,912. There are now 10,889 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,096 in January 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,927. Lexington employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lexington, Kentucky) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Lexington	10,023	+546	+619

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lexington, Kentucky Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Kentucky Unemployment Rate	Lexington Unemployment Rate	Lexington Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	4.5%	3.7%	10,023
September 2018	3.7%	4.5%	3.5%	9,477
August 2018	3.9%	4.4%	3.4%	9,394
July 2018	3.9%	4.3%	3.6%	9,806
June 2018	4.0%	4.2%	3.5%	9,687
May 2018	3.8%	4.1%	3.3%	9,010
April 2018	3.9%	4.0%	3.3%	9,002
March 2018	4.1%	4.0%	3.2%	8,708
February 2018	4.1%	4.1%	3.1%	8,507
January 2018	4.1%	4.3%	3.0%	8,096
December 2017	4.1%	4.5%	3.3%	9,019