Systemic Barriers Continue to Hold Back Wages and Employment for Kentuckians of Color
On the 154th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, barriers to thriving for black Kentuckians are still deeply entrenched. Data...
Jobs and the Economy
Ways Forward for the Commonwealth
In the coming weeks and months, Kentuckians will hear from candidates for governor about their vision and ideas for our commonwealth. KCEP’s careful analysis of Kentucky data and the research...
Urban Growth in Kentucky Continued in 2018
Recently released population estimates from the Census document how much Kentucky has continued to urbanize over the last eight years. Rural eastern and western counties’ populations have dropped while the “golden triangle”...
New Bills Would Slash Unemployment Insurance and Leave Kentuckians Stranded
New bills filed in both the Kentucky House and Senate would severely cut unemployment insurance for Kentuckians who lose their jobs, reducing benefits by 20 percent for the average unemployed...
Growing Number of Kentucky Counties Have More Available Workers Than Jobs
New federal data on Labor Surplus Areas (LSAs) for 2019 — counties and cities that persistently have more available workers than jobs — shows the depth of Kentucky’s economic challenges....
Voters’ Overwhelming Rejection of “Right to Work” Law Reflects Its Harm to Workers
Yesterday, voters in neighboring Missouri rejected the state legislature’s decision to enact a so-called “Right to Work” (RTW) in a landslide referendum, with 67 percent opposing the law. Voters’ opposition...
Rural Kentucky Population Continues to Shrink While Urban Counties Grow
Recently released population estimates from the Census document how much Kentucky has continued to urbanize over the last seven years. Not surprisingly, rural eastern and western counties’ populations have dropped while...
Putting Kentucky’s Employment Situation in Context
New data released last week showed that Kentucky's unemployment rate has now reached 4 percent, the lowest level since 1976. Continued overall economic recovery is good for the commonwealth, but...
Passage of the Dream Act Would Benefit Kentucky
In September, the Trump Administration announced the end of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), a program established by executive order that granted immigrant youth who were brought to the...
Social Security Disability Insurance Works for Vulnerable Kentuckians
There are many misconceptions about Social Security Disability Insurance (DI). Despite recent arguments that DI is a hindrance to people’s wellbeing and the commonwealth’s economy, it is instead a vital...