Department of Numbers

Owensboro, Kentucky Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Owensboro fell 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 4.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Kentucky rate. The unemployment rate in Owensboro peaked in April 2020 at 15.1% and is now 10.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.4% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Owensboro unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Kentucky 3.9% 0.0 -0.1
Owensboro 4.2% -0.1 +0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Owensboro, Kentucky, National

Owensboro, Kentucky monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Owensboro, Kentucky Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Owensboro peaked in April 2020 at 8,109. There are now 5,828 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,871 in April 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 410. Owensboro employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Owensboro, Kentucky) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Owensboro 2,281 -73 +136

Number of Unemployed Persons

Owensboro, Kentucky Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Kentucky
Unemployment Rate
Owensboro
Unemployment Rate
Owensboro
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.9% 4.2% 2,281
December
2022
3.5% 3.9% 4.3% 2,354
November
2022
3.6% 3.9% 4.3% 2,346
October
2022
3.7% 4.0% 4.1% 2,245
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.8% 2,105
August
2022
3.7% 4.0% 3.7% 2,020
July
2022
3.5% 3.9% 3.6% 1,942
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 3.5% 1,907
May
2022
3.6% 3.8% 3.4% 1,885
April
2022
3.6% 3.8% 3.4% 1,871
March
2022
3.6% 3.8% 3.5% 1,892

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.