The unemployment rate rose slightly in Logan County in December, according to the latest statistics released by the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, but it was still significantly lower than it was at the same time a year ago.

The December jobless rate for Logan County was 6.9 percent - up from 6.6 percent in November. It was the second lowest rate in the 10-county Barren River Development District (BRADD), behind only Warren County, which posted a rate of 6.5 percent.

The statewide average was 7.9 percent and the BRADD average was 7.3 percent.

Logan County’s unemployment rate remained lower than all of its other neighboring Kentucky counties. In Todd County, the rate was 7.8 percent, in Butler County it was 8.6 percent, in Muhlenberg County it was 8.7 percent and in Simpson County it was 7.8 percent.

Over the past year, unemployment fell from 8.1 percent in 2011 to 6.9 percent at the same time one year later.

That trend was seen over much of the state as unemployment rates fell in 97 Kentucky counties between December 2011 and December 2012, while 21 county rates increased and two stayed the same.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.4 percent. It was followed by Fayette and Union counties, 5.9 percent each; Franklin and Oldham counties, 6.1 percent each; Madison and Shelby counties, 6.2 percent each; Scott County, 6.3 percent; Jessamine County, 6.4 percent; and Daviess and Warren counties, 6.5 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.9 percent. It was followed by Fulton County, 15. 8 percent; Leslie County, 14.6 percent; Letcher County, 14 percent; Knott County, 13.8 percent; Bell, Harlan and Wolfe counties 13.5 percent; Jackson County, 12.9 percent; and McCreary and Perry counties, 12.7 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.