While the nation’s unemployment numbers are looking better, the jobless rate went up in all nine Pennyrile counties last month.

Latest numbers from the Office of Employment and Training show Christian County’s unemployment rate in December was 9.1%, which was up six tenths of a percentage point from November and a half point less than December of 2011.

Trigg County saw the largest jump in the jobless rate—jumping to 9.3% from 7.7% the previous month. That number is still three tenths of a point lower than a year ago.

Todd County’s unemployment was up a half point from November to 7.8% in December—with that number four tenths of a point lower than one year ago.

Muhlenberg County saw a six tenths of a point increase and Caldwell County was up three tenths. Hopkins County had the smallest increase in unemployment, up only one tenth of a percent to 6.7.

In all, 7,753 people in the nine-county area were looking for work last month and unable to find it.

Woodford County had the lowest unemployment rate in Kentucky at 5.4 percent, followed by Fayette and Union Counties at 5.9 each. Magoffin County had the highest jobless rate at 16.9 percent, followed by Fulton County at 15.8.

                                                            **

01/24/2013/am