Workforce Development
GOAL 2
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Workforce development was ranked as one of the top priorities needing to be addressed in the region in 2022. An educated and skilled workforce is a necessary component to community and economic development. Workforce development initiatives should work to achieve a balance between economic security of workers, sustainable economic growth, and meeting the demand of skilled workers for businesses and industries.
With a growing labor force of roughly 522,024 [1] as of June 2023, the KIPDA region provides the largest volume of job opportunities in the state and has the highest concentration of postsecondary education institutions. However, as the economy emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, employers continue to report difficulty in finding and keeping workers with skills that successfully meet their needs. As of June 2023 the unemployment rate was 3.9%. [2] Meanwhile, the economy continues to add jobs, with more than 13,600 online postings added in July 2023.[3] Therefore, expanding the workforce available to fill jobs with area employers should be a key priority for the region. This could be achieved through a combination of strategies that build a future pipeline of ready workers while expanding the current workforce by targeting groups that may have been previously excluded.
The pipeline of future workers should be developed with career pathway programs in regional high schools that enhance information about careers and provide on-ramps to those pathways through job shadowing, co-ops and internships. Several counties have implemented robust career pathway programs that provide hands-on vocational instruction based on recent labor market information. However, the number of Career & Technical Education (CTE) career pathway completers in the region decreased from 3,370 in 2019 to 2,883 in 2020[4]. This is a trend that must be reversed to meet the need for skilled workers in the region, especially knowing that the workforce is aging and that there will be a growing demand to fill skilled positions as workers retire. For example, 22% of the region’s current workforce are ages 55 and over. In manufacturing occupations, 24% of the region’s current workforce are ages 55 and over. Nearly 1-in-3 of current machinists and industrial machinery mechanics are ages 55 and older.[5]
In light of the historically tight labor market, both public and private workforce initiatives should also focus on targeted outreach to population groups that may not have been well represented in the labor force previously and who could help fill many needed positions in our regional economy. According to KY STATS, the KentuckianaWorks regional labor market includes the following sub-populations that may fit this description:[6]
Each of these groups may warrant specific strategies to engage them more effectively in the workforce. KentuckianaWorks, the Workforce Development Board for Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties, has a number of programs to target workers who may be disconnected, underemployed, unemployed or challenged with barriers to labor market participation (see success stories below). KentuckianaWorks operates in all seven KIPDA counties through career centers or mobile services and services are available to employers and jobseekers alike.
In some cases, employers may need to reevaluate their hiring policies to provide second chances or make accommodations for disabilities or low English proficiency. Federal programs such as the Federal Bonding Program for at risk employees and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) are available to employers in the region to minimize their risk when hiring employees with criminal backgrounds and other risk factors. With more than 9,000 jobseekers who are in active probation or in parole supervision in the KIPDA region, these tools could provide the support employers need to tap into a labor pool that is often overlooked and is eager to work.
Workforce participation can also be hindered by conditions that the National Fund for Workforce Solutions has called “The Social Determinants of Work,” which they define as “Opportunities that surround a given job and affect a worker’s ability to succeed, such as the ability to live close to the workplace, reliable and affordable transportation, dependable family care, and workplace benefits like healthcare and paid leave. These opportunities support employment stability and worker well-being and impact workforce equity.”[7] Employers can play a role by assessing their own policies and working conditions. A national “Good Jobs” movement, led by the Aspen Institute and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions has focused on guiding employers to redesign their jobs to provide economic stability, economic mobility and equity for their workers.[8]
To address barriers to work, support services should also be available throughout the region to better support workers’ ability to maintain employment. Transportation vouchers, child care provisions, caregiver needs, and drug prevention and treatment programs are some of the resources needed by the workers in the region. Encouraging local municipalities and businesses to collaborate with public services and non-profits to meet these needs will improve the quality of life for workers and strengthen the region’s labor force.
Finally, increased efforts are also needed to better align the region’s education and job training programs to meet the demands of emerging industries and technologies. Partnerships with education providers, career counseling services, and workforce development organizations will help to better prepare workers in the region, therefore increasing their employment opportunities. In addition to occupational training programs at the local postsecondary institutions, short-training programs that address unmet workforce needs in high wage careers can contribute to the local economy. Code Louisville is an example of a free, short-term program that prepares students for entry level software development jobs. As robotics, drone piloting and other fast-changing technologies evolve, the region should ensure that such programs are available.
Sources:
1. Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Data Released: 9/28/2022
2. Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Data Released: 9/28/2022
3. Data Source: Lightcast
4. Data Source: KYSTATS, Career and Tech Ed Feedback Report
5. Data Source: Lightcast
6. Data Source: KYSTATS, Kentucky Workforce Dashboard, Accessed 10/7/22
7. https://nationalfund.org/glossary_terms/social-determinants-of-work/ Accessed 10/7/22
8. https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/good-jobs-champions-group/ accessed 10/12/22
STRATEGIES
- Encourage communication between education providers and the business community to align technical training with private sector skill level requirements
- Businesses increase the number of job shadowing opportunities, paid internships, co-ops, summer jobs, and apprenticeships so that students can gain exposure to the workplace and supplement their classroom learning with on-the-job training.
- Employers participate in hiring events at the high schools at the end of the school year to provide opportunities for students who are not planning to go to college immediately.
- Employers participate in postsecondary advisory panels in their fields and provide co-ops to students
- When feasible, employers revise policies that may prevent hiring of people with criminal backgrounds
- Employers access federal programs that mitigate their risk in hiring employees with criminal records (Federal Bonding Program and Work Opportunity Tax Credits)[1]
- Work with immigrant and refugee agencies to place foreign-born job seekers into employment
- Employers work with adult education programs for English Language Learners to provide on-site ELL classes at workplaces
- Companies hire bi-lingual supervisors to work with employees who are English Language Learners
- Deliver free career counseling and job placement services to low-income and displaced workers through the region’s workforce development system
- Companies ensure outreach to all groups and maintain racial equity in hiring and promotions
[1] https://bonds4jobs.com/ and https://wotc.ky.gov/logon.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f accessed 10/11/22
- Address the training, education, and support service needs of unemployed or underemployed adult workers through the region’s education and workforce development system
- Employers participate in the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership, established in 2022 through House Bill 499 and which encourages non-profit and for-profit employers to offer child care assistance as a benefit of employment by matching employer contributions with state dollars[1]
- Consider the caregiver needs of workers by promoting Eldercare programs, Adult Day Care, and Family Caregiver support services.
- Promote the funding sources available for development of day care centers.
- Encourage local businesses to collaborate with public services, local government, and other non-profit organizations to offer drug addiction treatment and prevention options to their employees.
[1] https://kychamberbottomline.com/2022/03/30/legislation-to-help-businesses-provide-child-care-assistance-heads-to-governors-desk/ Accessed on 10/12/22
- Partner with local industries to provide information and training opportunities for in-demand skills.
- Share Labor Market Information with regional educational institutions and businesses to ensure that local training programs are relevant.
FUTURE MILESTONES
- Identify areas in the region with the greatest need for child care services and work with local chambers to encourage participation in the Child Care Assistance Partnership.
- Promote career and technical programs in all counties to increase number of participants and completers in high schools
- Promote postsecondary educational attainment
- Achieve certified Work Ready Community status and/or maintain certification for six of the seven counties in the KIPDA region.
METRICS
- Workforce participation rate for the region
- High school graduation rates
- Number of secondary Career & Technical Education completers
- Number of postsecondary completions
- Number of workers trained, placed, or counseled through workforce development system
- Number of community-operated day care centers
- Number of counties achieving Work Ready certification
SUCCESS STORIES
Henry and Trimble Counties are two of the five counties who are part of the state’s first regional high school. iLEAD is a Career Academy preparing students for the region’s highest wage, highest demand STEM careers. iLEAD students choose courses at the Carroll County Area Technical Center to prepare for careers in electrical engineering, Industrial Maintenance Technology, automotive, and Informatics. As iLEAD students meet Kentucky’s College-Ready benchmarks, they enroll in Jefferson Community and Technical College. The goal is for every iLEAD student to graduate with an Associate’s Degree and high school diploma.
The Academies of Louisville launched in fall 2017 with a mission to evolve public high school education by equipping students with the skills and 21st-century know-how needed to thrive in an ever-changing global economy. By connecting high schools to business and community partners, the Academy model aligns education and workforce development needs to better prepare students for postsecondary and career success. Academy students will graduate not only with a diploma but also with college credits, industry certifications, real work experience, and a backpack full of success skills.
After four years in an Academy, students will graduate with:
- Direct career and industry exposure
- Industry and college field trips
- Job shadowing experience
- Junior- and senior-year internships through SummerWorks
- The ability to earn college credits and industry credentials
- The ability to earn work experience through co-ops or apprenticeships
- Networking opportunities with local industry professionals
- Success skills and a postsecondary transition plan
Code Louisville is an online training program of KentuckianaWorks that teaches software development. More than 765 students have completed Code Louisville and gained employment in the IT field since May 2015. Free to participants, it is funded by Louisville Metro Government and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. In order to participate in Code Louisville, you must be 18 or older, looking to enter the tech industry as a career, and reside in one of the following counties: Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Shelby, Spencer, Henry, or Trimble. The program is 12-weeks for each pathway. Classes are online, but include weekly “meet ups” with experienced mentors in the coding field.
In 2021, The Spot: Young Adult Opportunity Campus – a new partnership between KentuckianaWorks and Goodwill Industries of Kentucky – opened its doors in downtown Louisville, the Hope Center in Henry County and the Buckman Center in Bullitt County. The Spot is a one-stop center helping young people (ages 16 – 24) in the seven-county region overcome life barriers and achieve career and educational goals. In just over a year, the program has helped more than 500 young adults get career guidance and support, and helped nearly 250 of them land new jobs.
KY FAME is a nationally recognized statewide apprentice program combining education and actual workplace experience. Students attend classes two days per week and work on the job three days per week, with the goal of obtaining an Advanced Manufacturing Technician certification. Participants in the program are paid a competitive wage for their work. After five semesters, participants earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Industrial Maintenance Technology-Advanced Manufacturing Technician Track, 68 to 71 college credit hours, two years of work experience and the AMT certification. Those who complete the program may start work immediately or transition to a four-year college or university – with no debt.
Serving the KIPDA region is the Greater Louisville Chapter at the Jefferson Community and Technical College. Greater Louisville Chapter Manufacturing Partners include Nucor, GE Appliances, Alliant, and others.
The Kentucky Work Ready Community program is a rigorous certification program allowing communities to demonstrate their workforce quality. The Kentucky Work Ready Community certification is a measure of a county’s workforce quality serving as an assurance to business and industry that the community is committed to providing the highly skilled workforce necessary to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies new jobs will require.
Kentucky is the third state to begin certifying counties as Work Ready Communities based on the quality of their labor force. The certification program is administered by the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (KWIB) and the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
In the KIPDA region, Bullitt, Oldham, Shelby and Spencer counties have been certified as a Work Ready Community. Henry and Trimble counties have been certified as Work Ready in Progress. Due to its size and unique situation, Jefferson County has chosen not to participate. Each county’s Work Ready Community Committee meets regularly providing a forum for dialogue among decision makers within the community to identify and address areas of improvement for workforce training and highlight successful endeavors.
To become certified, a county must gather local support and commitment and apply for the Work Ready Community designation. Counties have to meet criteria in six areas including high school graduation rates, National Career Readiness Certificate holders, demonstrated community commitment, educational attainment, soft-skills development and digital literacy. Earning the Kentucky Work Ready Communities certification gives counties a competitive edge when businesses are looking for a new location or want to expand in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (KWIB) works closely with the Cabinet for Economic Development to provide updates on the Kentucky Work Ready Communities program and which counties are certified. When considering talent, the Cabinet points to Kentucky Work Ready Communities as a differentiator.