Who Are Kentucky’s Essential Workers on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic impacts all people but creates distinct challenges for the 422,000 Kentuckians working on the frontlines of the...
Jobs and the Economy
What’s in the CARES Act for Kentucky
Congress has passed and the President has signed a new COVID-19 economic relief bill, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security (CARES) Act. Here are some of its major provisions and...
Paid Sick Leave Legislation Would Protect Health and Promote Economic Security
The COVID-19 pandemic is illustrating why Kentuckians must be able to stay home from work when they are sick. When people don’t have access to paid sick leave, the negative...
Kentucky Response to COVID-19: Protect State Economy Through Improved Unemployment Insurance
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked concerns about an economic slowdown resulting from widespread shutdowns in the global economy, and recent cancellations of large events in the United States. Continued economic...
Another Year of Modest Job Growth in Kentucky
We outlined in a 2018 report how Kentucky's economic performance had fallen short of claims based on corporate announcements. Among other things, we noted that the pace of state job...
Kentucky’s Changing Labor Force Participation, Explained
With the economy now experiencing the longest recovery on record, there is a temptation among some to overstate the strength of the labor market and even cast blame on workers...
Lopsided Recovery Continues to Leave Out Eastern Part of State
A recovering economy since the Great Recession has bypassed much of rural Kentucky and especially the eastern and northeastern regions of the state. Those conditions magnify the harm from current...
Average Kentucky Worker’s Paycheck Not Yet Benefitting from Growing Economy
With all of the claims about how great the economy is right now, the data shows that the average Kentuckian’s wages remained flat in 2018, continuing the trend of nearly...
Manufacturing Job Growth Has Slowed in Kentucky Since Passage of “Right-To-Work”
Manufacturing job losses in recent decades have hurt Kentucky communities. Two recessions and trade policies that have encouraged outsourcing and made American goods more expensive relative to other countries’ have...
Record-Breaking Failure to Raise the Minimum Wage Is Holding Back Kentucky
This week marks the longest period in history the federal government has failed to increase the minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009. Because Kentucky...