The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks Kentucky as the second highest state in the nation for job growth. From September 2011 to September of this year Kentucky’s added 47,000 jobs. Its net job growth was 2.6 percent, which is more than twice the average of competitor states. Those states include Indiana, Tennessee and Missouri. Much of Kentucky’s job growth was in the central area of the state. But Murray gained a few manufacturing jobs with the expansion of R.T. Vanderbilt in August. North Dakota edged out Kentucky in the rankings. Its economic growth links back to the discovery of new gas and oil fields.