# Kentucky reports jobless rates fell in all 120 counties in March year-over-year  
**Published:** 2026-05-14T14:00:12.000Z  
**Source:** [KY Education & Workforce Cabinet](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=EducationCabinet&prId=820)  
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**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/kentucky-reports-jobless-rates-fell-in-all-120-counties-in-march-year-over-year

[Kentucky released county unemployment data for March 2026](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=EducationCabinet&prId=820), showing continued labor market improvement across all 120 counties compared to the previous year, according to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Cabinet.

The data reflects a broader pattern of job recovery throughout the state. Earlier data from December showed similar gains, with [unemployment falling in all 120 counties](https://www.kaco.org/articles/state-releases-county-unemployment-data-for-december-2025/) during that period as well.

[The Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS)](https://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI/Index/), an agency within the state Education and Labor Cabinet, compiles the county-level data to track labor market trends. The county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted because of small sample sizes, meaning they reflect raw economic conditions in each region.

The state's overall jobless rate stood at 4.2% in March, according to the Education and Labor Cabinet. [This rate was lower than the national average of 4.3%](https://www.lanereport.com/187592/2026/05/kys-march-unemployment-rate-of-4-2-is-lower-than-u-s-average/) for the same month.

Economists noted, however, that Kentucky's stable unemployment rate masks shifting labor force dynamics. Roughly 16,000 workers exited Kentucky's labor force during the first three months of 2026, according to analysis from the University of Kentucky's Center for Business and Economic Research. The declining rate reflected both fewer people finding jobs and fewer people actively seeking employment.

Regional variations continue to characterize Kentucky's labor market. According to December data, [Woodford County had the lowest jobless rate at 2.7%, while Magoffin County had the highest at 7.4%](https://www.lanereport.com/186033/2026/02/unemployment-rates-drop-in-all-120-ky-counties-in-2025/). Fayette County, home to Lexington, was among the best-performing counties with a 2.9% jobless rate.

For detailed March county unemployment figures and statewide labor market analysis, residents can visit the [Kentucky Center for Statistics website](https://kystats.ky.gov/).

## Sources

- [KY Education & Workforce Cabinet](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=EducationCabinet&prId=820)
- [Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) - official labor market data portal](https://kystats.ky.gov/)
- [Lane Report report on December 2025 county unemployment showing all counties improved](https://www.lanereport.com/186033/2026/02/unemployment-rates-drop-in-all-120-ky-counties-in-2025/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from KY Education & Workforce Cabinet, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=EducationCabinet&prId=820.