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LMI

How to improve Kentucky's low labor force participation rate and why changes to UI benefits are not the answer

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.

The Louisville region ends 2021 in one of the tightest labor markets ever recorded

The Louisville region ends 2021 in one of the tightest labor markets ever recorded

Like the rest of the nation, the Louisville region is experiencing a very tight labor market. The unemployment rate is near record lows, and average wages are increasing. But with inflation on the rise, workers are not feeling the full benefits of wage increases. In this rare shift toward worker power, employees are able to voluntarily leave their current position and seek out new and better working conditions.

While labor market inequities persist for young people, SummerWorks can help

While labor market inequities persist for young people, SummerWorks can help

Many local employers are finally looking to increase their staffing levels, and young adults are a key labor supply. While employment rates for young people are increasing, persistent inequities exist in the labor market. SummerWorks is a summer youth employment program that seeks to help address these disparities by helping Louisville Metro’s youth connect with a summer job experience.