Data / Rankings / Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in Kentucky

Counties in Kentucky by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Boone County had the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 120 counties in 2021, at 69.4%. Elliott County had the lowest, at 30.8%. The median was 54.3% and the figure for Kentucky was 59.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest69.4Boone County
Lowest30.8Elliott County
Median54.3120 counties
Kentucky59.5History

Map of counties, 2021

Adair County: 52.6 %Allen County: 57.5 %Anderson County: 61 %Ballard County: 53.6 %Barren County: 55.6 %Bath County: 50.6 %Bell County: 39.7 %Boone County: 69.4 %Bourbon County: 60.4 %Boyd County: 52.3 %Boyle County: 55 %Bracken County: 59.1 %Breathitt County: 43.6 %Breckinridge County: 52.7 %Bullitt County: 64.6 %Butler County: 52.8 %Caldwell County: 57 %Calloway County: 59.5 %Campbell County: 65.4 %Carlisle County: 49 %Carroll County: 61 %Carter County: 43.4 %Casey County: 48 %Christian County: 60.6 %Clark County: 60.3 %Clay County: 36.9 %Clinton County: 49.7 %Crittenden County: 49.8 %Cumberland County: 51.3 %Daviess County: 61.7 %Edmonson County: 48.1 %Elliott County: 30.8 %Estill County: 46.4 %Fayette County: 68 %Fleming County: 56 %Floyd County: 41.8 %Franklin County: 61.8 %Fulton County: 46.5 %Gallatin County: 59.3 %Garrard County: 57.5 %Grant County: 63.5 %Graves County: 56.6 %Grayson County: 52.4 %Green County: 48.6 %Greenup County: 51.1 %Hancock County: 59 %Hardin County: 63.1 %Harlan County: 37.5 %Harrison County: 58.1 %Hart County: 55.9 %Henderson County: 57.2 %Henry County: 56.6 %Hickman County: 49.7 %Hopkins County: 54.2 %Jackson County: 40.2 %Jefferson County: 66 %Jessamine County: 62.7 %Johnson County: 43.6 %Kenton County: 69.1 %Knott County: 38.8 %Knox County: 41.9 %Larue County: 58.6 %Laurel County: 52.9 %Lawrence County: 37.1 %Lee County: 42.4 %Leslie County: 43.5 %Letcher County: 43 %Lewis County: 41.5 %Lincoln County: 55.2 %Livingston County: 52.8 %Logan County: 57.9 %Lyon County: 42.3 %McCracken County: 56.9 %McCreary County: 39.6 %McLean County: 54.2 %Madison County: 62.8 %Magoffin County: 37.9 %Marion County: 54.3 %Marshall County: 54.4 %Martin County: 36 %Mason County: 54.8 %Meade County: 60.5 %Menifee County: 44.9 %Mercer County: 57.5 %Metcalfe County: 54.7 %Monroe County: 57.4 %Montgomery County: 55.4 %Morgan County: 36.5 %Muhlenberg County: 51.1 %Nelson County: 63.3 %Nicholas County: 51.7 %Ohio County: 56.9 %Oldham County: 65.5 %Owen County: 56.7 %Owsley County: 36.5 %Pendleton County: 59.7 %Perry County: 49.4 %Pike County: 42.8 %Powell County: 50.7 %Pulaski County: 54.3 %Robertson County: 53 %Rockcastle County: 49.4 %Rowan County: 53.9 %Russell County: 53.2 %Scott County: 68 %Shelby County: 65.1 %Simpson County: 57.5 %Spencer County: 68.3 %Taylor County: 61.7 %Todd County: 55.8 %Trigg County: 53.2 %Trimble County: 60.4 %Union County: 54.8 %Warren County: 67.5 %Washington County: 61.4 %Wayne County: 48.3 %Webster County: 53.6 %Whitley County: 50.5 %Wolfe County: 32.8 %Woodford County: 65.1 %
  • Under 43
  • 43 to 51
  • 51 to 54
  • 54 to 57
  • 57 to 61
  • 61 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Boone County: 69.4 %Boone County69.4Kenton County: 69.1 %Kenton County69.1Spencer County: 68.3 %Spencer County68.3Fayette County: 68 %Fayette County68Scott County: 68 %Scott County68Warren County: 67.5 %Warren County67.5Jefferson County: 66 %Jefferson County66Oldham County: 65.5 %Oldham County65.5Campbell County: 65.4 %Campbell County65.4Woodford County: 65.1 %Woodford County65.1Shelby County: 65.1 %Shelby County65.1Bullitt County: 64.6 %Bullitt County64.6Grant County: 63.5 %Grant County63.5Nelson County: 63.3 %Nelson County63.3Hardin County: 63.1 %Hardin County63.1Madison County: 62.8 %Madison County62.8Jessamine County: 62.7 %Jessamine County62.7Franklin County: 61.8 %Franklin County61.8Daviess County: 61.7 %Daviess County61.7Taylor County: 61.7 %Taylor County61.7Washington County: 61.4 %Washington County61.4Anderson County: 61 %Anderson County61Carroll County: 61 %Carroll County61Christian County: 60.6 %Christian County60.6Meade County: 60.5 %Meade County60.5Trimble County: 60.4 %Trimble County60.4Bourbon County: 60.4 %Bourbon County60.4Clark County: 60.3 %Clark County60.3Pendleton County: 59.7 %Pendleton County59.7Calloway County: 59.5 %Calloway County59.5Gallatin County: 59.3 %Gallatin County59.3Bracken County: 59.1 %Bracken County59.1Hancock County: 59 %Hancock County59Larue County: 58.6 %Larue County58.6Harrison County: 58.1 %Harrison County58.1Logan County: 57.9 %Logan County57.9Simpson County: 57.5 %Simpson County57.5Garrard County: 57.5 %Garrard County57.5Allen County: 57.5 %Allen County57.5Mercer County: 57.5 %Mercer County57.5Boone County: 69.4 %Boone County69.4Kenton County: 69.1 %Kenton County69.1Spencer County: 68.3 %Spencer County68.3Fayette County: 68 %Fayette County68Scott County: 68 %Scott County68Warren County: 67.5 %Warren County67.5Jefferson County: 66 %Jefferson County66Oldham County: 65.5 %Oldham County65.5Campbell County: 65.4 %Campbell County65.4Woodford County: 65.1 %Woodford County65.1Shelby County: 65.1 %Shelby County65.1Bullitt County: 64.6 %Bullitt County64.6Grant County: 63.5 %Grant County63.5Nelson County: 63.3 %Nelson County63.3Hardin County: 63.1 %Hardin County63.1Madison County: 62.8 %Madison County62.8Jessamine County: 62.7 %Jessamine County62.7Franklin County: 61.8 %Franklin County61.8Daviess County: 61.7 %Daviess County61.7Taylor County: 61.7 %Taylor County61.7Washington County: 61.4 %Washington County61.4Anderson County: 61 %Anderson County61Carroll County: 61 %Carroll County61Christian County: 60.6 %Christian County60.6Meade County: 60.5 %Meade County60.5Trimble County: 60.4 %Trimble County60.4Bourbon County: 60.4 %Bourbon County60.4Clark County: 60.3 %Clark County60.3Pendleton County: 59.7 %Pendleton County59.7Calloway County: 59.5 %Calloway County59.5Gallatin County: 59.3 %Gallatin County59.3Bracken County: 59.1 %Bracken County59.1Hancock County: 59 %Hancock County59Larue County: 58.6 %Larue County58.6Harrison County: 58.1 %Harrison County58.1Logan County: 57.9 %Logan County57.9Simpson County: 57.5 %Simpson County57.5Garrard County: 57.5 %Garrard County57.5Allen County: 57.5 %Allen County57.5Mercer County: 57.5 %Mercer County57.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Boone County69.4
2Kenton County69.1
3Spencer County68.3
4Fayette County68
5Scott County68
6Warren County67.5
7Jefferson County66
8Oldham County65.5
9Campbell County65.4
10Woodford County65.1
11Shelby County65.1
12Bullitt County64.6
13Grant County63.5
14Nelson County63.3
15Hardin County63.1
16Madison County62.8
17Jessamine County62.7
18Franklin County61.8
19Daviess County61.7
20Taylor County61.7
21Washington County61.4
22Anderson County61
23Carroll County61
24Christian County60.6
25Meade County60.5
26Trimble County60.4
27Bourbon County60.4
28Clark County60.3
29Pendleton County59.7
30Calloway County59.5
31Gallatin County59.3
32Bracken County59.1
33Hancock County59
34Larue County58.6
35Harrison County58.1
36Logan County57.9
37Simpson County57.5
38Garrard County57.5
39Allen County57.5
40Mercer County57.5
41Monroe County57.4
42Henderson County57.2
43Caldwell County57
44McCracken County56.9
45Ohio County56.9
46Owen County56.7
47Graves County56.6
48Henry County56.6
49Fleming County56
50Hart County55.9
51Todd County55.8
52Barren County55.6
53Montgomery County55.4
54Lincoln County55.2
55Boyle County55
56Mason County54.8
57Union County54.8
58Metcalfe County54.7
59Marshall County54.4
60Pulaski County54.3
61Marion County54.3
62McLean County54.2
63Hopkins County54.2
64Rowan County53.9
65Webster County53.6
66Ballard County53.6
67Russell County53.2
67Trigg County53.2
69Robertson County53
70Laurel County52.9
71Livingston County52.8
72Butler County52.8
73Breckinridge County52.7
74Adair County52.6
75Grayson County52.4
76Boyd County52.3
77Nicholas County51.7
78Cumberland County51.3
79Muhlenberg County51.1
80Greenup County51.1
81Powell County50.7
82Bath County50.6
83Whitley County50.5
84Crittenden County49.8
85Clinton County49.7
86Hickman County49.7
87Perry County49.4
88Rockcastle County49.4
89Carlisle County49
90Green County48.6
91Wayne County48.3
92Edmonson County48.1
93Casey County48
94Fulton County46.5
95Estill County46.4
96Menifee County44.9
97Johnson County43.6
98Breathitt County43.6
99Leslie County43.5
100Carter County43.4
101Letcher County43
102Pike County42.8
103Lee County42.4
104Lyon County42.3
105Knox County41.9
106Floyd County41.8
107Lewis County41.5
108Jackson County40.2
109Bell County39.7
110McCreary County39.6
111Knott County38.8
112Magoffin County37.9
113Harlan County37.5
114Lawrence County37.1
115Clay County36.9
116Morgan County36.5
117Owsley County36.5
118Martin County36
119Wolfe County32.8
120Elliott County30.8

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 16 and over in the labor force (employed, unemployed or in the Armed Forces) as a percentage of all people aged 16 and over, including people in group quarters. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The Census Bureau definition used in its data profiles. It differs from the BLS labor_force_participation_rate, which counts the civilian noninstitutional population only.

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. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. 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. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Kentucky by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Kentucky by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Kentucky by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Kentucky by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Kentucky by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Kentucky by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Boone County, with 69.4% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Elliott County, with 30.8% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in Kentucky: more rankings