Business life: My finance news blog

Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate rose to 10.6 percent in April, up from 10.4 percent in April 2009 but down from a revised 10.7 percent in March 2010, according to figures released Thursday by the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent in April, up from 8.9 percent a year earlier and 9.7 percent in March 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Seven of Kentucky’s 11 major nonfarm job sectors reported year-over-year employment increases, and four reported decreases.

Kentucky gained a net 7,500 jobs, bringing the state’s nonfarm employment to a seasonally adjusted total of 1,769,500. It marked the second consecutive month of net job growth in the state, according to the OET.

April job gains were experienced in the following sectors: manufacturing; government; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; educational and health services; professional and business services; and “other” services sector (repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, religious organizations, and civic and professional organizations).

Declines were experienced in mining and logging, information, leisure and hospitality, and financial-activities sector.

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