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Kentucky unemployment in March up from previous year but down from previous month

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Unemployment in Kentucky in March came in slightly higher than where it was the year prior.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for March was 5.2 percent. That is an increase from March 2024 when the average was reported at 4.8 percent, but it is lower than the February average of 5.3 percent.

Kentucky’s unemployment average also came in higher in march than the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor reported at 4.2 percent.

The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw an increase of about 2,800 people from February to March, bringing the civilian labor force to a little more than 2,117,000.

The Education and Labor Cabinet says the Construction, Manufacturing, Leisure and Hospitality, Educational and Health Services, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, Financial Activities, and Information Services sectors saw increases from February to March. Numbers in the Government Sector were unchanged, while decreases were seen in the Mining and Logging, Professional and Business Services, and Other Services sectors.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website for more about unemployment figures and labor market information.

Kentucky Shakespeare performing for free in Radcliff and Elizabethtown

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Area residents will have two opportunities to catch Kentucky Shakespeare during their Spring Shakespeare in the Parks Tour.

Radcliff Parks and Rec is excited to welcome the performers to the city amphitheatre this week for a performance of Macbeth.

“This will be Thursday, April 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.,” said Radcliff Forestry and Conservation Board Member Barbara Baker. “We will have food trucks on site. If the weather is bad, we will move that location to the Colvin Community Center.”

Macbeth will also be staged on Tuesday, April 29 at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park. Parking will open at 5:30 p.m. with the performance beginning at 6:30. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs, and seating will be festival style. Food vendors will be on site, and in the event of inclement weather the performance will move to the State Theater.

Both performances are free and open to all ages. Visit www.kyshakespeare.com for more information.

Goodwill offering vouchers for Kentuckians impacted by flooding

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Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is offering support for residents impacted by flooding across the commonwealth through vouchers available at their stores and opportunity centers.

“If you are near an opportunity center and have the need for vouchers, which you can use for clothing and wares at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky stores (there are 66 stores statewide), we urge you to find your nearest store or opportunity center and obtain those vouchers,” said Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Communications Coordinator Kyle Williams. 

The vouchers are also available at Community Action Kentucky offices.

“They’re valued based on need for items in our stores,” Williams said. “They can be used at any store. We do ask that the full amount be used at one store, and an ID is required to obtain a voucher.”

The vouchers are part of Goodwill’s efforts to support communities in crisis.

“While we are not a disaster relief agency, we obviously see the tremendous need for some things that we can offer, so we step in in ways that we find necessary,” Williams said.

Visit the Elizabethtown Goodwill Opportunity Center at 243 West Dixie Avenue. To find your nearest Community Action Kentucky office, visit www.capky.org.