News
When those closest to the problem lead the conversation
The National Fund for Workforce Solutions’ push to design human-centered workplaces is a welcome innovation that I’ve seen work in other fields.
Louisville one of eight cities awarded grant aimed at improving equity and job quality for young adults
KentuckianaWorks is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a Generation Work™ grant through the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This award is part of the second phase of Generation Work grants, which will center young adults of color to inform hiring, retention, and workforce advancement in our community.
What updated occupation data shows for the Louisville region
The latest occupation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that some of the region’s most common occupations do not provide a living wage. Compared to other metro areas, Louisville has lower overall wages, even after adjusting for the cost of living.
The role of child care in the labor force participation rate among women
Research shows that mothers of young children accounted for nearly a quarter of the unanticipated employment loss related to COVID-19. Access to affordable, reliable child care was a challenge before the pandemic, and has only gotten worse since. The low-wage-work/high-cost-service conundrum of the child care sector has led the Treasury Department to deem the industry a market failure. This implies a need for public sector support, and given the impact to businesses in need of a labor supply, also suggests a role for employers to step in.
How to improve Kentucky's low labor force participation rate and why changes to UI benefits are not the answer
Given the tight labor market we are currently experiencing, the labor force participation rate is receiving a lot of attention. Recently, Kentucky legislators have made changes to the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) benefit program to address the low labor force participation in the state. However, changes to UI eligibility is unlikely to have any significant change on the state’s labor force participation rate. Policies targeting child care and economic opportunity for individuals with a disability and older workers are the main instruments for improving the state’s labor force participation rate.