Owensboro Praised by CNN for Unemployment Numbers

Needless to say, 2020 has not been good for the job market. The number of furloughs due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to a double digit unemployment rate, nationally, in June.

In Owensboro, however, the story has been a little different, and CNN has taken notice.

The Cable News Network has singled out our city as being the only metropolitan area in the country where unemployment numbers haven't risen over the last year.

CNN Business examined numbers for 389 metro areas, provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and found what I found--Owensboro's unemployment rate in June 2019 was 4.4%. One year later, the number has dropped to 4.2%. It's not a big decrease, but it is the ONLY decrease on the list.

The network spoke with Mayor Tom Watson and Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Candance Brake who gave their explanations as to why they believe Owensboro's job numbers are as good as they are.

CNN also credited big employers like Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, our distilleries, Swedish Match and Unifirst, which manufactures personal protective equipment (PPE).