Skilled Trades in Kentuckiana

Skilled trades offer competitive wages without a four-year degree, and they’re a major part of Kentuckiana’s economy. With more than 90,000 jobs in the region and a median wage of $27 per hour, these careers pay above the area’s living wage. But nearly one in four workers is 55 or older, so building the next generation of talent is critical.

September snapshot for the Kentuckiana region

Change since September of last year

The region's September report shows some signs of a slowing economy. The number of people working was down slightly over the year, pushing up the unemployment rate. Demand for workers as measured by online job postings was up slightly.

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Construction Careers

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Explore in-demand construction careers in the Louisville region. How much do they pay? What skills do you need? Who are the top local employers? Find answers to these questions and much more.

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Household income

The Census Bureau’s annual income report shows U.S. real median household income was $87,460 in 2025, up 2.6% and the highest on record since 1967. The gains weren’t evenly shared, though. Income at the 10th percentile didn’t change significantly, while income at the 90th percentile rose 1.7%. Since 1967, pre-tax income at the 10th and 50th percentiles has grown about 56%, compared with about 121% at the top.

Immigration and population growth

Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies finds that without immigration, growth in rural counties would have been minimal, growth in suburbs and smaller metros would have been cut in half, and large urban counties would have lost population. Kentuckiana is an example: the region grew just 0.5% last year and would have shrunk without international migration. With an aging workforce, slower population growth makes it harder for employers to find workers.

Declining labor market churn

An Atlanta Fed analysis finds that rising worker anxiety is reducing quits and job-to-job moves, so the labor market is best described as “low-hire, low-fire, low-quit.” A low-churn market where workers are reluctant to switch jobs is unlikely to be a sign of a fully healthy labor market. Those out-of-work will have more difficulty finding jobs, and for employed workers there is downward pressure on wage growth and productivity. In addition, a decline in natural attrition could have future implications on lay-off decisions.

The Labor Market Update is a monthly report produced by KentuckianaWorks, the Louisville region's Workforce Development Board. The report gives Louisville's policymakers and business leaders an overview of the local economy through powerful visuals and concise analysis.

Please do not reply to this email. For all questions, reach out to Sarah Ehresman at lmi@kentuckianaworks.org.

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