Data at Work in Louisville: KentuckianaWorks Builds Capacity + Impact with LMI
Data at Work is a series from the LMI Institute highlighting how workforce development boards across the country are building data capacity to inform strategy, drive innovation, and expand access to education and career opportunities. Each profile explores how boards use labor market information (LMI) to tell their region’s talent story – connecting people to high-value credentials and employers to a skilled workforce. Through this series, the LMI Institute showcases data-informed practices that strengthen regional economies and advance postsecondary attainment.
We are proud to highlight KentuckianaWorks as the first in this series.
Data at Work in Louisville: KentuckianaWorks Builds Capacity and Impact with LMI
KentuckianaWorks, the local workforce development board serving the seven-county Louisville region, exemplifies the power of data-driven decision making. With a robust labor market intelligence function and a commitment to evidence-based workforce strategies, the board has established itself as a regional leader in leveraging labor market information (LMI) to inform programs, influence policy, and expand opportunity.
Building Strong Data Capacity
At the core of KentuckianaWorks’ success is its investment in internal data capacity. The board employs a full-time Director of Labor Market Intelligence, a dedicated position that ensures ongoing access to, interpretation of, and strategic use of labor market data. This role is essential in maintaining a high level of analytical rigor across the organization’s initiatives.
In addition to staffing, KentuckianaWorks utilizes a suite of LMI resources to support its work. This includes a commercial LMI data tool to access detailed occupational and industry insights, alongside publicly available resources such as the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), IPUMS, and the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS). These tools enable the board to monitor wage trends, employment projections, turnover rates, and educational requirements – key data points for identifying priority sectors and occupations.
Driving Strategy with LMI
LMI is not just a behind-the-scenes tool at KentuckianaWorks – it is central to the board’s strategic planning, service design, and external communications. Insights from labor market analysis guide:
Sector Strategies: LMI informs the identification of high-growth, high-wage industries aligned with regional employer demand.
- Training Investments: Data helps determine which occupations offer quality jobs for individuals without four-year degrees, ensuring training programs align with employer needs and career mobility.
- Employer Engagement: The board uses LMI to communicate with businesses about talent pipelines, helping align workforce supply and demand more effectively.
One standout example of this strategic approach is the board’s development of Explore Careers, a locally customized career exploration tool. This resource highlights in-demand occupations in KentuckianaWorks’ six target sectors, offering users real-world insights into job duties, wages, and career pathways. The tool serves jobseekers, students, and counselors alike in navigating the region’s labor market.
Influencing Policy and Expanding Opportunity
KentuckianaWorks’ application of LMI goes beyond program design – it has also been a powerful tool for policy advocacy. Local boards around the state “were able to highlight the concerning problem of youth disconnection to the state general assembly and successfully lobbied for general funds to go to the workforce boards to amplify WIOA Youth dollars in this space.” This effort resulted in new state-level investments that supplement federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth funding.
With the additional state funds, KentuckianaWorks was able to expand services to high school seniors without clear postsecondary plans. This preventative approach addresses disconnection at the source, helping more young people successfully transition from school to work.
Evaluating Impact with Administrative Data
To assess long-term impact, KentuckianaWorks partners with KYSTATS to track workforce program participants using administrative data, including:
UI wage records for employment and earnings outcomes
- Postsecondary enrollment and completion data
- Corrections data to monitor recidivism and reentry success
This cross-agency data sharing supports a more comprehensive understanding of program effectiveness, enabling the board to refine strategies and improve service delivery.
KentuckianaWorks demonstrates what is possible when a local workforce board prioritizes data capacity, cross-sector collaboration, and evidence-based innovation. By embedding LMI into every aspect of its work, from planning and policy to program delivery and evaluation, the board is not only responding to today’s labor market but also shaping a more inclusive and resilient workforce future for the Louisville region.
KentuckianaWorks produces a monthly Labor Market Update newsletter, featuring the local monthly jobs report and LMI content on issues affecting work and workers.
Would you like to showcase your workforce board? We’d love to talk to you! Contact us – Jennie Allison (jallison@crec.net).