Department of Numbers

Owensboro, Kentucky Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Owensboro rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 4.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Kentucky rate. The unemployment rate in Owensboro peaked in April 2020 at 15.2% and is now 10.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.5% in January 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.0 percentage points. You can also compare Owensboro unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Kentucky 4.3% +0.1 +0.4
Owensboro 4.5% +0.1 +0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Owensboro, Kentucky, National

Owensboro, Kentucky monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Owensboro, Kentucky Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Owensboro peaked in April 2020 at 8,180. There are now 5,809 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,881 in February 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 490. Owensboro employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Owensboro, Kentucky) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Owensboro 2,371 +36 +79

Number of Unemployed Persons

Owensboro, Kentucky Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Kentucky
Unemployment Rate
Owensboro
Unemployment Rate
Owensboro
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.3% 4.5% 2,371
October
2023
3.8% 4.2% 4.4% 2,335
September
2023
3.8% 4.1% 4.3% 2,287
August
2023
3.8% 4.0% 4.2% 2,220
July
2023
3.5% 3.9% 4.1% 2,170
June
2023
3.6% 3.8% 4.0% 2,131
May
2023
3.7% 3.8% 4.0% 2,123
April
2023
3.4% 3.7% 4.0% 2,115
March
2023
3.5% 3.8% 4.0% 2,129
February
2023
3.6% 3.9% 4.1% 2,211
January
2023
3.4% 3.9% 4.1% 2,216

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.