Logan County has the lowest unemployment in the entire Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) according to the latest statistics released last week by the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training.

Logan County’s latest number, for July of this year, was 7.3 percent. Warren County had the second-lowest jobless rate in the 10-county BRADD area at 7.5 percent.

For several years now, Warren County has consistently had the lowest rate in the region, with Logan County usually coming up behind in second.

Hart County was third at 7.7 percent and was the only other county with a rate below eight percent.

Logan County’s other Kentucky neighbors - including some outside of BRADD - all had higher rates. Butler County was 9.1 percent, Simpson County was 9.1 percent, Muhlenberg County was 9.3 percent and Todd County was 8.2 percent.

Logan County’s unemployment is down slightly from June and significantly from the same time a year ago when it was 9.2 percent.

That trend was seen all over the state as unemployment rates fell in 97 Kentucky counties between July 2011 and July 2012, while 18 county rates increased and five stayed the same.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.9 percent. It was followed by Fayette and Franklin counties, 6.6 percent each; Oldham and Union counties, 6.7 percent each; Scott and Shelby counties, 6.8 percent each; Hancock County, 6.9 percent; and Daviess, Jessamine, Madison and Owen counties, 7.1 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.7 percent. It was followed by Futon County, 15.4 percent; Harlan County, 14.6 percent; Jackson County, 14.4 percent; Leslie County, 14.3 percent; Bell County, 13.9 percent; Wolfe County, 13.7 percent; McCreary County, 13.6 percent; Letcher County, 13.5 percent; and Knott County, 13.3 percent.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted to allow for comparisons between United States, state and county figures.