Gov. Beshear: More Kentuckians In Good Jobs as Unemployment Rates Drop in all 120 Counties

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 5, 2026) - Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that more jobs are being filled in Kentucky as unemployment rates fell in all 120 counties between December 2024 and December 2025. The county unemployment data was reported by the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) and released Thursday morning through the Education and Labor Cabinet.

"This means more of the good jobs we're creating are being filled and more of our families are bringing home a good paycheck to support their family," said Gov. Beshear. "These are the numbers we really want to see and the results we want to deliver. I am proud of what we're accomplishing for our people as we build a better future for every Kentuckian."

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 2.7%. It was followed by Shelby County, 2.8%; Caldwell, Fayette, Oldham and Todd counties, 2.9% each; and Bourbon, Carroll, Franklin, Graves, Scott and Washington counties, 3% each.

To read the full announcement, click here.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,300 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $45 billion in announced investments, creating more than 68,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth's history and $24 billion more than the next highest total.

The Beshear administration has also recruited the best jobs in Kentucky's history with the highest three-year average for new wages. In 2025, the state's average incentivized wage was just under $30 an hour.

Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the battery capital of the United States: AESC's $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Ford Motor Co.'s $2 billion, 2,200-job commitment in Louisville, as well as its $2 billion, 2,100-job project at the Kentucky 1 plant in Hardin County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing's $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and Toyota's $1.3 billion investment in Scott County, among others.

The Governor's administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.

Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service.

Last year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2024 Governor's Cup rankings. Site Selection also placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and No. 6 nationally in its 2025 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.