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- calendar_today November 2, 2026
Recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal key trends in employment and wages across Kentucky, capturing variations among the state's largest counties as well as overall statewide labor dynamics. The latest quarterly and annual data allow for informed comparisons and a well-rounded view of Kentucky’s job market conditions as of late 2025 and early 2026.
County-Level Employment Changes: Kentucky experienced a slight decrease in total employment in early 2026. From March 2025 to March 2026, statewide employment dipped 0.4%, while among the largest counties, only Jefferson County saw employment decline (-0.5%), with Kenton (+0.1%), Fayette (+0.4%), and Boone (+1.9%) experiencing small to moderate growth. Jefferson remained the county with the highest employment level at nearly 476,000 jobs, and together these four counties accounted for 43.6% of Kentucky's covered employment. [BLS Kentucky County Employment and Wages, Sep 2026]
This pattern was also evident in data for December 2025: Jefferson County employment fell 0.6%, while Fayette and Boone Counties grew by 1.6% and 3.4%, respectively. In this period, Jefferson County maintained the highest employment, at over 481,000 jobs. The three largest counties comprised just under 40% of state employment. [BLS Kentucky County Employment and Wages, Jun 2026]
County and Statewide Wage Trends: Wages have continued to rise, though Kentucky’s gains lag behind the national average. In the first quarter of 2026, average weekly wage growth ranged from 3.4% in Jefferson to 1.9% in Boone and Kenton. Statewide, the average weekly wage increased by 2.9% to $1,248, placing Kentucky 45th among the 50 states and District of Columbia, both for wage levels and for wage growth. Notably, all four of Kentucky’s largest counties posted weekly wages below the national average of $1,654, with a range from $1,540 in Jefferson to $1,184 in Boone. [BLS Kentucky County Employment and Wages, Sep 2026]
Quarterly data show that in the fourth quarter of 2025, Jefferson County’s average weekly wage increased 4.7% to $1,458, while Fayette and Boone saw smaller increases of 2.4% and 1.1%, respectively, to average weekly wages of $1,298 (Fayette) and $1,191 (Boone). Wage levels in smaller counties were still mostly below the national average, with Hancock County reporting the state's highest average weekly wage at $1,948 and Nicholas County the lowest at $744. [BLS Kentucky County Employment and Wages, Jun 2026]
Across all Kentucky counties in late 2025, a wide range of wage levels was observed: 36 counties reported average weekly wages less than $925, while 25 reported wages of at least $1,150. [BLS Kentucky County Employment and Wages, Jun 2026]
Job Openings and Labor Turnover: Labor demand indicators show that Kentucky’s job openings increased to 110,000 in October 2025, a rise from 103,000 in September. The job openings rate was 5.1% in October, higher than the national average of 4.5%. The number of hires and separations was relatively balanced: there were 67,000 hires and 65,000 separations in October, consistent with a 12-month average of 74,000 hires and 70,000 separations monthly. Of October’s separations, 40,000 were quits and 22,000 were layoffs or discharges—quits averaged 41,000 per month over the preceding year. [BLS Kentucky Job Openings and Labor Turnover, Jan 2026]
In summary, Kentucky's recent labor market data highlight slow overall statewide employment growth, persistent wage gaps relative to the nation, ongoing differences between counties, and stable job churn in terms of hires and separations.
