It isn’t hardly worth cheering, but it’s notable nonetheless: Scott County’s unemployment rate no longer threatens to be the highest such rate in the state…at least for now.

After being announced at a seasonal unadjusted rate of 18.8% in December (2nd-highest in the state), Scott County’s seasonally-adjusted rate dropped all the way to 17.9% in December. That rate rose to 18.3% in January, according to figures released yesterday by the Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development.

At 18.3%, Scott County’s jobless rate is good enough for 8th-highest in the state…and for the first time in over a year, it isn’t the highest unemployment rate in the region. That dubious distinction goes to Pickett County, which has an unemployment rate of 18.7%.

Total unemployment in Scott County rose from 1,550 in December to 1,560 in January.

With major layoffs coming that aren’t factored into that unemployment rate and won’t be for a few more months, our slide down the Top 10 list probably won’t last.