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.

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.