Grayson County has the highest unemployment rate for June 2003 in the Lincoln Trail Area at 9.9 percent.

The rate is up from 9.2 percent in May of this year. The area registered a 6.0 percent which is just above the state average of 5.9 percent.

The lowest rate for the Lincoln Trial Area was registered in Larue County at 3.7 percent.

The Lincoln Trail Area reported Marion and Washington counties at 4.3 percent each, Nelson County at 5.5 percent, Hart County registered 5.8 percent and Meade County had a 6.3 percent unemployment rate.

Unemployment rates rose in 76 Kentucky counties between June 2002 and June 2003, fell in 39 counties and remained the same in five.

In June 2003, 11 counties had jobless rates at or above 10 percent, which is two more than the June 2002 report.

Kentucky's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to its highest point in 18 months to 5.9 percent in June, according to the Department for Employ-ment Services, a Cabinet for Workforce Development agency.

The state's seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 5.7 percent in May 2003, and 5.6 percent in June 2002.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate in June increased to 6.4 percent from 6.1 percent in May.

"The .2 percentage point increase from May to June was the largest single-month jump in Kentucky's unemployment rate since February," said Carlos Cracraft, the department's chief labor market analyst.

"While Kentucky's unemployment rose in June, we were one of 40 states that remained below the national jobless rate of 6.4 percent in June and we have stayed below the national rate for 15 consecutive months."

Seven of the 10 major non-farm job North American Industry Classifi-cation System (NAICS) sectors had employment decreases in June, while three recorded increases, Cracraft said. A monthly survey of business establishments revealed that Kentucky's non-farm em-ployment fell by 2,100 on a seasonally adjusted basis to June's 1,770,900 employees.

According to the seasonally adjusted employment data, the leisure and hospitality sector recorded the largest decline of the 10 major non-farm NAICS sectors with 1,700 fewer employees in June.

"The employment loss in June marked the fourth out of the past five months that this sector has lost jobs."

The educational and health services sector fell by 1,200 jobs in June. However, the sector has added 4,400 jobs since June 2002.

The construction sector lost 800 jobs from May to June, marking the fifth straight month that the sector has shrunk. Since June 2002, the sector has fallen by 1,700 jobs.

The Kentucky manufacturing sector employment continued to slide with 700 fewer jobs in June. "This sector had 7,600 fewer employees in June 2003 than in June 2002, and has lost some 43,000 jobs over the past three years," Cracraft said.

In the trade, transporation and utilities sector, employment decreased by 500 in June. This sector includes retail and wholesale trade, transportation and utilities businesses, and warehousing, and is the largest sector in Kentucky with 365,300 employees. Since June 2002, the sector has lost 6,400 jobs.

The information sector had 500 fewer employees in June than in May. This sector, which includes firms involved in publishing, Internet activities and broadcasting and news syndication, declined by 200 employees from June 2002 to June 2003.

The financial activities sector had 200 fewer employees in June than in May, but this sector has added 500 jobs since June 2002. This sector includes establishments involved in finance, insurance, real estate and property leasing or rental.

On the positive side, the government sector, which includes public education, added 3,400 jobs from May to June. Since June 2002, this sector has increased by 1,600 jobs.

The professional and business services sector rose by 100 jobs in June. Compared to June 2002, the sector had 300 more employees in June 2003.

The other services sector, which includes such establishments as repair and maintenance places, personal and laundry services, religious organizations, and civic and professional organizations, also increased by 100 jobs in June. Over the past 12 months, the sector has lost 1,800 jobs.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly estimate of the number of employed Kentuckians for June 2003 was 1,869,429 on a seasonally adjusted basis.

This figure is down 2,489 from the 1,871.918 employed in May 2003, but up 12,922 from the 1,856,507 employed in June 2002.

The monthly estimate of the number of unemployed Kentuckians for June 2003 was 116,435. This figure is up 2,941 from the 113,494 unemployed in May 2003, and up 20,059 from the 1.965,805 recorded for June 2002.

The civilian labor force includes, non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work.

It does not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.

Employment and unemployment statistics are based on estimates. They are compiled to indicated employment trends rather than actually to count number of people who are or are not working.