Kentucky Workforce Summit Highlights Strategies to Strengthen the State’s Talent Pipeline

Business, education, and workforce leaders gathered for the 11th Annual Kentucky Workforce Summit in February, presented by Deloitte, to focus on strengthening the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline and preparing for the future of work.

Opening the Summit, Deloitte’s Jordan Harris underscored the role employers play in shaping Kentucky’s workforce future, emphasizing the importance of investing in homegrown talent to strengthen the Commonwealth’s competitiveness. “Investing in the workforce developed here and giving Kentuckians the opportunity to live and work in our state is central to our commitment,” he said, noting Deloitte’s investment in Kentucky and its graduates.

The State of Kentucky’s Workforce 

Education and Labor Cabinet Secretary Jamie Link shared an update on Kentucky’s workforce landscape, describing the Commonwealth as being at an inflection point as industries evolve and employer needs shift.

He highlighted persistent talent shortages in high-demand sectors, barriers to workforce participation, and gaps in coordination across systems, emphasizing that solutions must be employer-led and data-driven.

To better align those efforts, Link pointed to the Statewide Workforce and Talent Team (SWATT), a coordinated effort to better align education, workforce programs, and business needs across the Commonwealth. He underscored that workforce development requires sustained collaboration between business, education, and government to keep Kentucky competitive.

Strengthening Kentucky’s Talent Pipeline

Stephen Moret, president and CEO of Strada Education Foundation, delivered a keynote focused on strengthening the connection between education and workforce demand in Kentucky.

Moret said Kentucky is uniquely positioned to lead the next phase of workforce opportunity, calling the Commonwealth better prepared than any state to connect education and employment. He stressed that success must be measured by results — whether education and training are leading to real jobs and meeting the needs of Kentucky employers.

He cited data showing that about 48% of early-career bachelor’s degree holders in Kentucky are underemployed. Closing that gap, he said, requires a stronger focus in five areas: clear information about where programs lead, effective career coaching, affordability, expanded paid work-based learning, and closer alignment with high-demand careers.

To build on Kentucky’s strong employer engagement and workforce efforts, Moret encouraged continued expansion of internships and apprenticeships and better alignment between credentials and employer needs. Strengthening these connections, he said, is essential to building a stronger talent pipeline and supporting long-term economic growth in the Commonwealth.

Learn more about Strada’s 2025 State Opportunity Index and how Kentucky ranks here.

A New Blueprint for Readiness: How Increased Relevance, Skills, and Employer Partnerships in K12 Can Transform the Future Workforce

Greg Walker, senior vice president of State and District Partnerships for College Board, delivered a keynote focused on how classroom learning can better prepare students for real-world careers.

He pointed to national data showing that few employers report strong partnerships with local schools and that 84% believe entry-level employees are not fully prepared. Walker said those gaps underscore the need for earlier and clearer exposure to career pathways and the skills needed in today’s workforce.

To address this, he highlighted new career-connected Advanced Placement courses — including AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity — developed in partnership with K–12 educators, higher education, and business leaders. Designed to provide both college credit and workforce-relevant skills, he said the courses are to help students better understand how classroom learning translates into future careers.

Going further, Walker encouraged employers to strengthen relationships with local schools and help shape learning experiences so students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed — whether entering the workforce directly or continuing their education.

Learn more about the College Board’s career-focused AP courses here.

Housing Challenges Across the Commonwealth and the Impact on the Workforce

Workforce growth in Kentucky is increasingly tied to housing availability, which was the focus of a panel featuring Charles Aull of the Kentucky Chamber, Anetha Sanford of the Home Builders Association of Kentucky, Andrew Games of the Elizabethtown Hardin County Industrial Foundation, and Terri Bradshaw of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development.

Aull tied the discussion to the Kentucky Chamber’s 2024 report, Building a Foundation for Growth, which identified supply constraints, infrastructure barriers, and skilled trades shortages as key drivers of the state’s housing gap. With housing-related legislation under consideration in the 2026 General Assembly, the group emphasized the need for supply-focused policies, streamlined development processes, and strategic infrastructure investment to restore market balance.

Sanford emphasized that addressing Kentucky’s housing shortage requires building across the full spectrum of need — from entry-level and workforce homes to mid-market, higher-end, and rental options. While builders respond to market demand and costs are making it increasingly difficult to deliver attainable housing. A mix of housing types, she said, is essential to attract talent of all types.

Games shared examples of how housing constraints are affecting workers directly — from young graduates struggling to purchase their first home to employees facing rent that strains household budgets. Housing affordability, he said, is no longer simply a market issue; it has become a workforce stability issue that directly affects recruitment, retention, and long-term economic competitiveness.

In addition to keynote discussions and housing policy, Summit panels explored a range of strategies shaping Kentucky’s workforce future, including:

• Employer success through coordinated workforce systems: Employers, including Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Gravity Diagnostics, Century Aluminum, and North American Stainless, shared how the SWATT framework is simplifying engagement with workforce partners and delivering measurable results.
• Growing health care talent pipelines: Appalachian Regional Healthcare, UK King’s Daughters, and Owensboro Health highlighted how employer participation in TPM® and education-to-employment initiatives is helping grow Kentucky’s health care workforce.
• Expanding access to untapped talent: Through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Hiring Academies, employer perspectives from Lofted Spirits, Humana, and Taylor Made Farms highlighted practical approaches to recruiting and retaining individuals with disabilities, military-connected talent, New Kentuckians, and those with fair chance backgrounds.
• Connecting businesses with veteran talent: KY VALOR shared strategies for strengthening veteran and transitioning service member pipelines, including ways employers can improve translation of military experience into civilian roles.
• Employer-driven training partnerships: Goodwill Kentucky and CVS Health showcased an employer-led training model designed to address talent shortages using industry-recognized credentials, flexible training delivery, and support services that improve completion and retention.
• Employer-supported child care solutions: Child Care Aware of Kentucky and EC Learn discussed how aligning child care policies with workforce strategies can improve recruitment, retention, and employee stability.
• Civic engagement: The Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Beth Davisson had a conversation with 2025 Kentucky National Civics Bee® Champion Ava Bogard, who shared her experience competing nationally and discussed the importance of civic participation, leadership, and understanding how public policy and economic opportunity shape Kentucky’s future.
• Reimagining workforce readiness in K–12: The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, along with partners including Gray Construction, Rockcastle County Schools, and the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, discussed Kentucky’s Meaningful Diploma work and how graduation expectations can better align with career readiness.
• Entrepreneurial mindset for workforce development: Sustainable Business Ventures Corporation emphasized how an “entrepreneurial mindset” — rooted in problem-solving, adaptability, and value creation — is increasingly viewed as essential across industries.
• Industrial workforce trends and generational shifts: Employbridge presented research on labor market volatility, skills shortages, and the growing need for flexible workforce models and upskilling strategies across the industrial sector.
• Artificial Intelligence in Workforce Strategy and Operations: Sessions examined how AI is reshaping hiring, HR, and business operations. Essential Innovations highlighted how automation can unlock tax credits and workforce incentives to reduce hiring costs and expand access to untapped talent. Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP addressed legal and compliance considerations, while Expertspeaks focused on practical frameworks to ensure human judgment and strong data validation remain central as AI tools are adopted.
• Data-informed community partnerships: The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence previewed Kentucky’s forthcoming Groundwork Insight MAP platform, designed to integrate education, workforce, and community data to support informed local decision-making.
• Building Stronger Workplace Culture and Retention Strategies: Several panels explored how culture and purpose influence recruitment and retention. Mercer highlighted evolving employee expectations around well-being and flexibility, while Incipio Workforce Solutions shared practical approaches to building belonging and growth. Work Institute and CMI Consulting emphasized that intentional leadership and strong internal systems remain key drivers of performance and retention.

Businesses looking to advance employer-led workforce solutions can connect with the Kentucky Chamber Foundation at kychamber.com/kentucky-chamber-foundation.