Caldwell and Webster counties tied for the lowest October unemployment rate in western Kentucky. Webster’s rate dropped from 7.5 percent in September to 6.6 percent in October, while Caldwell County’s rate stayed flat.
The majority of counties in the region saw a dip in unemployment last month. But Calloway County’s jobless rate spiked, rising from 6.4 percent to 7.2 percent. The timing coincides with major layoffs at Murray-based College Book Renter. Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce president/CEO Lance Allison could not comment on specific layoffs. But Allison says it’s never a good thing when unemployment rates go up.
“However, I do feel like in our community we weather those economic storms a little bit better, and over the long term we tend to come out of these a little bit quicker than the communities around us," said Allison.
Fulton County’s jobless rate remains among the state’s highest at 14.7 percent.
The state has released afull index of numbers for all Kentucky counties.
