FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky officials say the state's unemployment rate fell to 5.1 percent in March, the lowest rate since June 2001.
The state office of Employment and Training said Thursday that Kentucky's jobless rate has been below the national rate for eight straight months.
The state agency says Kentucky's preliminary jobless rate for March fell from the revised 5.3 percent rate in February.
It says last month's rate was well below the statewide 7.2 percent jobless rate in March 2014.
The agency says Kentucky's professional and business services sector added 3,100 positions in March compared to the prior month. Employment in the other services sector — which includes repairs and maintenance and personal care services, rose by 700 in March from a month earlier.