States · Kentucky

Kentucky Economy — Live Data

Kentucky sits in the South, with an economy built around automotive manufacturing, bourbon, and logistics. The state's unemployment rate is 4.5% — above the national rate of 4.2%. Every number on this page pulls live from federal statistical sources.

Unemployment Rate
4.5%
▲ Above US average (4.2%)
Nonfarm Jobs
2.03M
▼ -0.4% jobs YoY
House Prices (YoY)
+4.4%
▲ Rising
Per-Capita Income
$61K
▲ +4.1% vs prior year
Kentucky vs. United States — Unemployment
Kentucky
4.5%
United States
4.2%

Kentucky is running above the national unemployment rate. At 4.5% vs 4.2% nationally, local job seekers face a somewhat tougher market than the US average.

Jobs & Output
Nonfarm payrolls
2.03M
Job growth (YoY)
-0.4%
Real GDP (2025)
$233B
GDP growth (YoY)
+1.0%

Payrolls are monthly (BLS); GDP and income are annual (BEA). Key sectors in Kentucky: automotive manufacturing, bourbon, and logistics.

What this means if you live or work in Kentucky
💼
Job market
With unemployment at or above the national average, hiring in Kentucky is more employer-friendly — job seekers should expect more competition per opening.
🏠
Housing
House prices are rising moderately (+4.4% YoY) — a balanced market by recent standards.
💵
Income
Per-capita personal income in Kentucky is $60,673, up 4.1% from the prior year. Compare against national inflation to gauge real purchasing power.
🏭
Key industries
Kentucky's economy leans on automotive manufacturing, bourbon, and logistics — sector-specific national trends (energy prices, rates, consumer spending) hit this state through those channels first.
Key Numbers — Kentucky
Unemployment4.5%
US unemployment4.2%
Nonfarm jobs2.03M
House prices YoY+4.4%
Per-capita income$60,673
Real GDP$233B
Labor data as ofMay 2026
Nearby States
Tennessee economy → Indiana economy → Ohio economy → West Virginia economy → All 50 states →
National Data
US labor market → US housing data → US inflation → Full dashboard →

Data: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) — series KYUR, KYNA, KYSTHPI, KYPCPI, KYRGSP — plus BLS and BEA. Live values load on page open; figures shown are the most recent official releases. Not financial advice.