Unemployment rose in May

By BRAD DICKERSON
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW July 03, 2008 05:38 pm

— Barren County’s unemployment figures were on the rise in May, following April’s decline.
For the month, the local number was at 5.7 percent, compared to April’s 5.2 percent, according to statistics from the Office of Employment and Training (OET).
March’s figure was 5.8 percent.
Justine Detzel, chief labor market analyst for the OET, said an increase in the civilian labor force, specifically students searching for summer employment or persons seeking work to compensate for rising prices, could be a factor in the local increase.
“Due to its proximity to Western Kentucky University and Bowling Green Technical College, Barren County’s unemployment rate is likely impacted by recent graduates searching for employment,” Detzel said. “This surge of entrants and re-entrants into the labor force, coupled with the weak economy, is causing individuals to have an extremely difficult time finding a job that matches their skills.”
For the corresponding month in 2007, the county was better off at 5.2 percent.
In the Barren River region as a whole, the unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, up from April’s 5.0 percent, as well as an increase from the 5.1 percent posted in May 2007.
Hart County increased from 5.2 to 6.4 percent, Metcalfe County rose from 5.7 to 6.1 percent, Monroe climbed from 7.1 to 7.7 percent and Warren County grew from 4.3 to 5.3 percent.
Statewide, unemployment was at 6.1 percent in May, which was up from April’s 5.5 percent.