Prior to the COVID-19, pandemic, Kentucky had an unemployment rate that was significantly higher than the United States at 4.3% compared with 3.5% respectively as of December 20191. As our surveys were collected across a time period that spanned into the pandemic response when many businesses were shut down in Kentucky and that responses did not capture the date of response, it is important to acknowledge rates may be inflated even more than usual in our communities as a result of the pandemic.
Carroll County
Survey results in Carroll County indicate that nearly 31% of respondents were unemployed at the time of the survey. This includes all reasons for being unemployed, including being a homemaker, retired, disabled, and those who are enrolled in school. Analysis of those who are not working indicates that the vast majority, 79.2%, of those who are unemployed fall into one of these categories. Looking solely at those who are unemployed that are or are not looking for work, that rate reduces to 20.8%. Current nationwide unemployment rates are projected to reach 20% for April 2020 or higher as a result of the pandemic, Bloomberg Economics2.
Gallatin County
Survey results in Gallatin County indicate that nearly 33.6% of respondents were unemployed at the time of the survey. This includes all reasons for being unemployed, including being a homemaker, retired, disabled, and those who are enrolled in school. Analysis of those who are not working indicates that the vast majority, 84.4%, of those who are unemployed fall into one of these categories. Looking solely at those who are unemployed that are or are not looking for work, that rate reduces to 15.6%. Current nationwide unemployment rates are projected to reach 20% for April 2020 or higher as a result of the pandemic, Bloomberg Economics2.
Owen County
Survey results in Owen County indicate that nearly 26.3% of respondents were unemployed at the time of the survey. This includes all reasons for being unemployed, including being a homemaker, retired, disabled, and those who are enrolled in school. Analysis of those who are not working indicates that the vast majority, 87.9%, of those who are unemployed fall into one of these categories. Looking solely at those who are unemployed that are or are not looking for work, that rate reduces to 12.1%. Current nationwide unemployment rates are projected to reach 20% for April 2020 or higher as a result of the pandemic, Bloomberg Economics2.
Pendleton County
Survey results in Pendleton County indicate that nearly 38.4% of respondents were unemployed at the time of the survey. This includes all reasons for being unemployed, including being a homemaker, retired, disabled, and those who are enrolled in school. Analysis of those who are not working indicates that the vast majority, 89.8%, of those who are unemployed fall into one of these categories. Looking solely at those who are unemployed that are or are not looking for work, that rate reduces to 10.2%. Current nationwide unemployment rates are projected to reach 20% for April 2020 or higher as a result of the pandemic, Bloomberg Economics2.
