FRANKFORT, KY (June 5, 2024)—Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, has appointed Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, to the Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force. This task force will convene monthly throughout the 2024 Interim.

The Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force aims to

  • identify issues Kentucky employers face in attracting and retaining skilled workers,

  • explore successful marketing strategies for workforce attraction from other states and local communities,

  • collaborate with the Cabinet for Economic Development and hire a consulting firm to devise recommendations,

  • develop a marketing program and grant fund program for workforce attraction and retention,

  • evaluate existing education and workforce development programs,

  • analyze economic and labor force data and demographic trends, and

  • engage with employers, industry representatives, and economic development professionals.

"I'm excited to serve on this task force and appreciate President Stivers for making me a member," Elkins said. "We often see unemployment rates touted as a metric of a strong job market, but too often overlooked is the more vital metric of workforce participation. With just over a 57 percent labor participation rate, that isn't acceptable if we want to reach our economic potential. Our 54 Appalachian counties continue to struggle with job opportunities, which will particularly interest me.

"As much progress as we have made with tax reform and workforce initiatives, we are not insulated from the impacts of inflation and federal government policies, so I want to look at ways we can do better, especially in the post-COVID era following its devastating economic impacts."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2021, Kentucky's labor force participation rate was 57.4 percent, topping only six states (South Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, New Mexico, Mississippi, and West Virginia). Most recent seasonally adjusted data from Federal Reserve Economic Data, FRED, shows Kentucky's labor force participation rate at 57.1 percent as of April, only higher than Mississippi. This is 2 percent lower than in 2019. The national average is 62.7 percent. 

Elkins and fellow lawmakers returned to Frankfort this week for the 2024 Interim. The interim serves as a primer for the 2025 30-day Legislative Session as lawmakers receive updates on previously enacted legislation, hear from stakeholders on various public policy areas, and analyze policy options and proposals to consider. In addition to the Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force, Elkins serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Families and Children, Local Government, State Government, and Health Services.


Visit legislature.ky.gov or CLICK HERE to view the 2024 Interim calendar. The dates and times for task force meetings have not yet been determined. Once they have, they will be reflected on the calendar.

The Kentucky General Assembly is committed to continuing progress on workforce challenges. The task force's work will culminate in a detailed report with actionable recommendations submitted to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1. This initiative represents a proactive approach to addressing one of the most pressing issues facing Kentuckians today.

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Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, represents the 28th Senate District, including Bath, Clark, Menifee, and Montgomery Counties and an eastern portion of Fayette County. Elkins is a member of the Interim Joint Committees on Local Government, State Government, Families and Children, and Health Services. He is a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Services. Elkins is also an Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee member.

Visit the following link for a high-quality photo of Senator Elkins: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate128.jpg.

Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for more information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the recently concluded 2024 Legislative Session.

Live legislative coverage during the ongoing 2024 Interim is available at KET.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel.

 Access archived footage of legislative meetings at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on X, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also find information on caucus members, as well as view press releases from our office, by visiting KYSenateRepublicans.com.