January 2026 | Released April 08, 2026
Download the full PDF for Kentucky
Download the summary PDF for Kentucky
United States
Employment snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.
The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.
Kentucky
Employment snapshot
In January, Kentucky added 5,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky added 2,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kentucky added 7,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 4.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Kentucky’s private sector added 5,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky added 2,000 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Kentucky fell by 3,119, and over the past 12 months it rose by 15,433.
Kentucky’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.1 percent in January from 58.3 percent and ranks 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Kentucky
Payroll employment
Kentucky added 5,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Kentucky added 2,000 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kentucky added 5,200 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Kentucky added 2,000 jobs. Kentucky private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From December 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,000) and Construction (-300).
From January 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+4,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+3,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-3,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,700).
Kentucky
Labor force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Kentucky fell to 58.1 percent in January from 58.3 percent in the prior month.
Kentucky ranks 46th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kentucky was 59.1 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 54.7 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.