FRANKFORT — Unemployment rates fell in 101 Kentucky counties between October 2011 and October 2012, while 17 county rates increased and two stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Bell and Harlan counties still ranked among those with the highest unemployment rate with 13 percent unemployment. Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate with 15.5 percent. It is followed by Fulton County (14.7 percent), Knott and Letcher counties (13.5 percent), Leslie County (13.4 percent) and Perry and Wolfe counties (12.4 percent).

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.6 percent. It was followed by Scott County, 6 percent; Fayette, Shelby and Union counties, 6.2 percent each; Oldham County, 6.3 percent; Franklin and Madison counties, 6.4 percent each; Larue County, 6.5 percent; and Bracken, Caldwell, Jessamine, Owen and Webster counties, 6.6 percent each.

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.