News
The lasting impact of federal policy and discrimination on Black workers in the Louisville region
As we celebrate Black History Month and this year’s theme of African Americans and Labor, it’s important to call attention to the policies that limited Black workers’ access to quality employment in the past, and how the impact of those policies can still be seen in the unequal labor market outcomes across our region today.
Spotlight on Job Quality
Labor Day is celebrated to recognize the “social and economic achievements of American workers.” So in celebration of the American worker, and those within the Louisville region in particular, this post will cover job quality. As stated in the KentuckianaWorks mission, dignified work is that which satisfies needs, creates value, and inspires hope.
Spotlight on the manufacturing industry
The manufacturing sector is the second largest sector in the Louisville region’s economy, and holds a special place in the history of the region’s development. Learn more about the current state of the manufacturing industry in this spotlight.
Half of the region's workforce earns at least $44k
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in May 2022 the Louisville region’s median hourly wage was $21.33 per hour, or $44,360 per year. More than half of the region’s workforce is earning a living wage for a single adult with no children. But the region’s median wage is still short of the family-supporting wage for a family of four with two working adults.
Update: A new tool to help Kentuckians understand benefits cliffs
As the costs of basic needs have skyrocketed during this period of rapid inflation, it is worth revisiting the impact of cliff effects on workers in low-wage jobs. The Kentucky Center for Statistics has revamped its Family Resource Simulator, making it easier to use and ensuring it will stay updated and relevant in a changing economy.