Data / Rankings / Job destruction rate / Counties in Kentucky

Counties in Kentucky by job destruction rate, 2023

Nicholas County had the highest job destruction rate of 120 counties in 2023, at 21.35%. Union County had the lowest, at 3.957%. The median was 9.579% and the figure for Kentucky was 10.32%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest21.35Nicholas County
Lowest3.957Union County
Median9.579120 counties
Kentucky10.32History

Map of counties, 2023

Adair County: 11.914 %Allen County: 7.035 %Anderson County: 6.635 %Ballard County: 6.383 %Barren County: 6.711 %Bath County: 12.933 %Bell County: 12.343 %Boone County: 12.139 %Bourbon County: 11.512 %Boyd County: 8.169 %Boyle County: 9.069 %Bracken County: 12.238 %Breathitt County: 7.772 %Breckinridge County: 9.89 %Bullitt County: 9.813 %Butler County: 6.546 %Caldwell County: 9.505 %Calloway County: 8.76 %Campbell County: 10.404 %Carlisle County: 7.988 %Carroll County: 5.113 %Carter County: 12.737 %Casey County: 15.083 %Christian County: 7.322 %Clark County: 7.157 %Clay County: 4.646 %Clinton County: 11.171 %Crittenden County: 10.266 %Cumberland County: 10.589 %Daviess County: 12.136 %Edmonson County: 10.898 %Elliott County: 8.247 %Estill County: 10.991 %Fayette County: 10.464 %Fleming County: 11.153 %Floyd County: 13.87 %Franklin County: 13.395 %Fulton County: 17.314 %Gallatin County: 13.401 %Garrard County: 11.542 %Grant County: 5.947 %Graves County: 8.12 %Grayson County: 11.307 %Green County: 14.642 %Greenup County: 13.597 %Hancock County: 5.529 %Hardin County: 11.245 %Harlan County: 11.174 %Harrison County: 7.727 %Hart County: 10.813 %Henderson County: 11.32 %Henry County: 12.905 %Hickman County: 7.602 %Hopkins County: 8.202 %Jackson County: 11.095 %Jefferson County: 10.349 %Jessamine County: 8.06 %Johnson County: 9.533 %Kenton County: 7.52 %Knott County: 7.828 %Knox County: 14.264 %Larue County: 14.611 %Laurel County: 10.164 %Lawrence County: 6.965 %Lee County: 5.038 %Leslie County: 9.111 %Letcher County: 9.371 %Lewis County: 11.328 %Lincoln County: 14.112 %Livingston County: 7.151 %Logan County: 9.163 %Lyon County: 10.273 %McCracken County: 9.408 %McCreary County: 18.095 %McLean County: 14.235 %Madison County: 10.125 %Magoffin County: 10.565 %Marion County: 9.413 %Marshall County: 8.536 %Martin County: 15.111 %Mason County: 6.233 %Meade County: 13.127 %Menifee County: 7.639 %Mercer County: 8.858 %Metcalfe County: 13.569 %Monroe County: 9.624 %Montgomery County: 7.889 %Morgan County: 7.418 %Muhlenberg County: 8.061 %Nelson County: 7.219 %Nicholas County: 21.35 %Ohio County: 5.734 %Oldham County: 7.223 %Owen County: 9.949 %Owsley County: 7.702 %Pendleton County: 14.678 %Perry County: 9.349 %Pike County: 8.325 %Powell County: 11.218 %Pulaski County: 8.532 %Robertson County: 8.421 %Rockcastle County: 7.189 %Rowan County: 8.712 %Russell County: 7.064 %Scott County: 7.705 %Shelby County: 18.106 %Simpson County: 10.61 %Spencer County: 11.061 %Taylor County: 7.286 %Todd County: 10.4 %Trigg County: 9.447 %Trimble County: 15.215 %Union County: 3.957 %Warren County: 10.489 %Washington County: 5.002 %Wayne County: 7.42 %Webster County: 13.099 %Whitley County: 7.596 %Wolfe County: 13.705 %Woodford County: 8.439 %
  • Under 7.2
  • 7.2 to 8.2
  • 8.2 to 9.6
  • 9.6 to 11
  • 11 to 13
  • 13 and over
%, 2023. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Nicholas County: 21.35 %Nicholas County21.35Shelby County: 18.106 %Shelby County18.106McCreary County: 18.095 %McCreary County18.095Fulton County: 17.314 %Fulton County17.314Trimble County: 15.215 %Trimble County15.215Martin County: 15.111 %Martin County15.111Casey County: 15.083 %Casey County15.083Pendleton County: 14.678 %Pendleton County14.678Green County: 14.642 %Green County14.642Larue County: 14.611 %Larue County14.611Knox County: 14.264 %Knox County14.264McLean County: 14.235 %McLean County14.235Lincoln County: 14.112 %Lincoln County14.112Floyd County: 13.87 %Floyd County13.87Wolfe County: 13.705 %Wolfe County13.705Greenup County: 13.597 %Greenup County13.597Metcalfe County: 13.569 %Metcalfe County13.569Gallatin County: 13.401 %Gallatin County13.401Franklin County: 13.395 %Franklin County13.395Meade County: 13.127 %Meade County13.127Webster County: 13.099 %Webster County13.099Bath County: 12.933 %Bath County12.933Henry County: 12.905 %Henry County12.905Carter County: 12.737 %Carter County12.737Bell County: 12.343 %Bell County12.343Bracken County: 12.238 %Bracken County12.238Boone County: 12.139 %Boone County12.139Daviess County: 12.136 %Daviess County12.136Adair County: 11.914 %Adair County11.914Garrard County: 11.542 %Garrard County11.542Bourbon County: 11.512 %Bourbon County11.512Lewis County: 11.328 %Lewis County11.328Henderson County: 11.32 %Henderson County11.32Grayson County: 11.307 %Grayson County11.307Hardin County: 11.245 %Hardin County11.245Powell County: 11.218 %Powell County11.218Harlan County: 11.174 %Harlan County11.174Clinton County: 11.171 %Clinton County11.171Fleming County: 11.153 %Fleming County11.153Jackson County: 11.095 %Jackson County11.095Nicholas County: 21.35 %Nicholas County21.35Shelby County: 18.106 %Shelby County18.106McCreary County: 18.095 %McCreary County18.095Fulton County: 17.314 %Fulton County17.314Trimble County: 15.215 %Trimble County15.215Martin County: 15.111 %Martin County15.111Casey County: 15.083 %Casey County15.083Pendleton County: 14.678 %Pendleton County14.678Green County: 14.642 %Green County14.642Larue County: 14.611 %Larue County14.611Knox County: 14.264 %Knox County14.264McLean County: 14.235 %McLean County14.235Lincoln County: 14.112 %Lincoln County14.112Floyd County: 13.87 %Floyd County13.87Wolfe County: 13.705 %Wolfe County13.705Greenup County: 13.597 %Greenup County13.597Metcalfe County: 13.569 %Metcalfe County13.569Gallatin County: 13.401 %Gallatin County13.401Franklin County: 13.395 %Franklin County13.395Meade County: 13.127 %Meade County13.127Webster County: 13.099 %Webster County13.099Bath County: 12.933 %Bath County12.933Henry County: 12.905 %Henry County12.905Carter County: 12.737 %Carter County12.737Bell County: 12.343 %Bell County12.343Bracken County: 12.238 %Bracken County12.238Boone County: 12.139 %Boone County12.139Daviess County: 12.136 %Daviess County12.136Adair County: 11.914 %Adair County11.914Garrard County: 11.542 %Garrard County11.542Bourbon County: 11.512 %Bourbon County11.512Lewis County: 11.328 %Lewis County11.328Henderson County: 11.32 %Henderson County11.32Grayson County: 11.307 %Grayson County11.307Hardin County: 11.245 %Hardin County11.245Powell County: 11.218 %Powell County11.218Harlan County: 11.174 %Harlan County11.174Clinton County: 11.171 %Clinton County11.171Fleming County: 11.153 %Fleming County11.153Jackson County: 11.095 %Jackson County11.095
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Nicholas County21.35+6.7 pts
2Shelby County18.106+9.07 pts
3McCreary County18.095+0.88 pts
4Fulton County17.314+11.96 pts
5Trimble County15.215+10.79 pts
6Martin County15.111-5.21 pts
7Casey County15.083+9.21 pts
8Pendleton County14.678+4.01 pts
9Green County14.642+7.54 pts
10Larue County14.611+2.13 pts
11Knox County14.264+4.17 pts
12McLean County14.235-3.68 pts
13Lincoln County14.112+5.14 pts
14Floyd County13.87+5.09 pts
15Wolfe County13.705+4.91 pts
16Greenup County13.597+1.12 pts
17Metcalfe County13.569+2.99 pts
18Gallatin County13.401+7.66 pts
19Franklin County13.395+3.13 pts
20Meade County13.127+3.6 pts
21Webster County13.099+0.05 pts
22Bath County12.933+0.01 pts
23Henry County12.905-0.35 pts
24Carter County12.737-0.07 pts
25Bell County12.343+4.83 pts
26Bracken County12.238+5.81 pts
27Boone County12.139+1.95 pts
28Daviess County12.136+1.94 pts
29Adair County11.914+2.14 pts
30Garrard County11.542-3.79 pts
31Bourbon County11.512-3.03 pts
32Lewis County11.328-17.03 pts
33Henderson County11.32+0.17 pts
34Grayson County11.307-5.21 pts
35Hardin County11.245-2.85 pts
36Powell County11.218+3.01 pts
37Harlan County11.174+2.02 pts
38Clinton County11.171+1.89 pts
39Fleming County11.153+0.17 pts
40Jackson County11.095-9.59 pts
41Spencer County11.061-5.04 pts
42Estill County10.991+1.62 pts
43Edmonson County10.898+0.45 pts
44Hart County10.813-0.09 pts
45Simpson County10.61+1.79 pts
46Cumberland County10.589+2.6 pts
47Magoffin County10.565-0.59 pts
48Warren County10.489-2.05 pts
49Fayette County10.464+0.13 pts
50Campbell County10.404-0.68 pts
51Todd County10.4+0.01 pts
52Jefferson County10.349-3.83 pts
53Lyon County10.273-1.81 pts
54Crittenden County10.266-0.52 pts
55Laurel County10.164-7.35 pts
56Madison County10.125-0.3 pts
57Owen County9.949-2.43 pts
58Breckinridge County9.89-0.37 pts
59Bullitt County9.813-1.44 pts
60Monroe County9.624+2.25 pts
61Johnson County9.533-2 pts
62Caldwell County9.505-3.13 pts
63Trigg County9.447-2.65 pts
64Marion County9.413+2.13 pts
65McCracken County9.408+0.18 pts
66Letcher County9.371+0.75 pts
67Perry County9.349-1.52 pts
68Logan County9.163-0.75 pts
69Leslie County9.111-1.13 pts
70Boyle County9.069-3.94 pts
71Mercer County8.858+1.79 pts
72Calloway County8.76+0.49 pts
73Rowan County8.712+0.6 pts
74Marshall County8.536-0.55 pts
75Pulaski County8.532-0.79 pts
76Woodford County8.439-1.43 pts
77Robertson County8.421-7.55 pts
78Pike County8.325-3.38 pts
79Elliott County8.247-8.34 pts
80Hopkins County8.202-1.49 pts
81Boyd County8.169-2.93 pts
82Graves County8.12-3.68 pts
83Muhlenberg County8.061-2.07 pts
84Jessamine County8.06-3.58 pts
85Carlisle County7.988-2.71 pts
86Montgomery County7.889-2.51 pts
87Knott County7.828-17.48 pts
88Breathitt County7.772-1.29 pts
89Harrison County7.727+0.59 pts
90Scott County7.705-2.07 pts
91Owsley County7.702-1.38 pts
92Menifee County7.639-14.81 pts
93Hickman County7.602-0.72 pts
94Whitley County7.596-3.8 pts
95Kenton County7.52-2.82 pts
96Wayne County7.42-9.76 pts
97Morgan County7.418-3.27 pts
98Christian County7.322-6.91 pts
99Taylor County7.286-8.15 pts
100Oldham County7.223-7.69 pts
101Nelson County7.219+0.63 pts
102Rockcastle County7.189-10.65 pts
103Clark County7.157-3.12 pts
104Livingston County7.151-5.94 pts
105Russell County7.064-0.67 pts
106Allen County7.035-3.29 pts
107Lawrence County6.965+0.63 pts
108Barren County6.711-4.03 pts
109Anderson County6.635-3.47 pts
110Butler County6.546-7.57 pts
111Ballard County6.383-7.37 pts
112Mason County6.233-3.33 pts
113Grant County5.947-1.99 pts
114Ohio County5.734-6.96 pts
115Hancock County5.529+0.23 pts
116Carroll County5.113-6.24 pts
117Lee County5.038-2.88 pts
118Washington County5.002-2.96 pts
119Clay County4.646-4.44 pts
120Union County3.957-8.4 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Jobs lost at closing and shrinking establishments during the year, as a percentage of average employment in the two years. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics.

A gross flow: jobs added elsewhere are not subtracted, so the net change is job_creation_rate minus this rate. Not a layoff rate: it counts positions lost at establishments, not people who lost a job. The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (Counties in Kentucky by job destruction rate, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Kentucky by job destruction rate, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/kentucky-counties. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Counties in Kentucky by job destruction rate, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/kentucky-counties.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Kentucky by job destruction rate, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/kentucky-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Kentucky by job destruction rate, 2023}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/kentucky-counties. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Kentucky by job destruction rate, 2023
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/kentucky-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/kentucky-counties.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest job destruction rate?

Nicholas County, with 21.35% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest job destruction rate?

Union County, with 3.957% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Job destruction rate: other rankings

Counties in Kentucky: more rankings