The Kentucky Center for Statistics released the state’s July 2022 seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment report Thursday.
Preliminary reports show the jobless rate stands at 3.7%, unchanged from June 2022, but down 1.1 percentage points from the 4.8% recorded for the state a year ago. a year.
The seasonally adjusted U.S. unemployment rate for July 2022 was 3.5%, down from 3.6% recorded in June 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, are based on Current Population Survey household estimates. The survey is designed to measure trends in the number of people working and includes jobs in agriculture and the self-employed.
Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,063,503 in July 2022, a decrease of 725 people from June 2022. The number of people employed in July fell by 391 to 1,986,514 while the number of unemployed fell from 334 to 76,989.
“Kentucky’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.7% in July,” said Mike Clark, Ph.D., director of the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky. “While estimates of the number of employed and labor force declined slightly in July, these numbers were not statistically significantly different from the June estimates.”
In a separate federal survey of business establishments that excludes agricultural and self-employed employment, Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment fell 11,400 jobs in July 2022 compared to June 2022. Nonfarm employment of Kentucky increased by 45,400 jobs or 2.4% compared to July 2021.
“Kentucky’s private sector employment estimate rose in July,” Clark said. “However, these employment gains were offset by a sharp decline in the preliminary estimate of local government employment.”
Non-agricultural data are provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics program. According to the survey, employment rose for six of Kentucky’s top North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) non-farm employment sectors in July 2022 and fell for five.
Kentucky’s education and health services sector added 2,300 jobs in July 2022. Employment in the education services subsector increased by 100 jobs from June to July. The health care and social assistance subsector added 2,200 jobs in July. Since last July, this sector has grown by 7,900 jobs or 2.8%.
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The trade, transportation and utilities sector gained 1,800 jobs from June 2022 to July 2022. Employment increased by 1,600 jobs in the retail trade subsector; increased by 1,000 jobs in the wholesale trade sub-sector; and decreased by 800 jobs in the transportation, warehousing and utilities sub-sector. Since July 2021, employment in this sector has increased by 13,100 jobs or 3.2%.
Construction employment jumped 1,100 jobs in July 2022 or 1.4% from June. The construction sector lost 700 jobs or 0.9% compared to a year ago.
“After declining in the first four months of the year, employment in Kentucky’s construction industry has picked up over the past three months,” Clark said.
Employment in Kentucky’s professional and business services sector increased by 800 jobs or 0.3% in July 2022. Employment fell by 200 jobs in the professional, scientific and technical services subsector. The administrative, support and waste management sub-sector gained 900 jobs and the business management sub-sector added 100 jobs. Employment in this sector has increased by 13,700 jobs or 6.2% since July 2021.
Kentucky’s recreation and hospitality sector increased by 500 positions from June 2022 to July 2022, a gain of 0.3%. This sector increased by 17,300 jobs or 9.5% compared to July 2021. Employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation sub-sector decreased by 200 jobs from June to July. The accommodation and food services subsector added 700 jobs in July.
Employment in Kentucky’s mining and forestry sector increased by 100 jobs from June 2022 to July 2022, and was up 100 jobs from a year ago.
The information services sector lost 100 jobs in July. Industries in this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing; motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications. The number of jobs in this sector increased by 800 positions or 3.8% compared to a year ago.
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The financial activities sector lost 300 jobs in July 2022. These losses occurred in the finance and insurance subsector, which lost 300 jobs from June to July. Employment in the real estate, rental and leasing subsector was unchanged from June to July. The sector gained 1,000 jobs compared to last July.
Employment in the other services sector fell by 300 jobs in July 2022. This sector has lost 1,200 jobs since July 2021. The other services sector includes repairs and maintenance, personal care services and organizations nuns.
Manufacturing employment in Kentucky fell 2,600 positions from June 2022 to July 2022, a loss of 1.1%. Job losses occurred among durable goods manufacturers, which lost 2,700 jobs in July. Employment in non-durable goods manufacturers increased by 100 jobs. Kentucky manufacturing employment has declined by 3,000 positions or 1.2% since July 2021.
In the public sector, employment fell by 14,700 jobs from June 2022 to July 2022. Employment increased by 200 jobs in the federal government and was unchanged in the state government. Local government employment fell by 14,900 positions. Employment in the general government sector fell by 3,600 jobs or 1.3% from July 2021.
“July estimates suggest local government in Kentucky may have fallen back to levels similar to the first summer of the pandemic,” Clark said. “However, the estimates are preliminary and may be revised as more information becomes available. Estimates for August and September will provide a clearer indication of how local government, which includes local school districts, has changed.
Civilian workforce statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentucky workers who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentucky workers who have not looked for work in the past four weeks.
Kentucky’s statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. Employment statistics fluctuate greatly due to seasonal events, such as weather changes, harvests, holidays, and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. However, due to small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
To learn more about Kentucky’s labor market information, visit kystats.ky.gov.
Kentucky Cabinet of Education and Labor