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Kentucky jobs and job market: layoffs, colleges and workforce help

Kentucky’s unemployment rate is 4.7%. 4,143 open professional jobs are listed here. Employers filed 44 layoff notices in the last 12 months. Choose a county or city for the same picture closer to home.

Independent page. Not from or affiliated with the State of Kentucky.

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Kentucky economy

  • 4.7%

    unemployment, Sep 2026

    4.5% the month before

  • 2,116,455

    in the labor force

    Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics

  • 4,510,725

    people in Kentucky

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

  • $62,417

    median household income

    Source: Census ACS

  • 37%

    of workers in white-collar occupations

    Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS

Kentucky outlook: Steady

Built from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census figures. It describes the area, not any one employer in it.

  • Private-sector jobs up 3.1% from 2022 to 2025
  • Population up 2.2% from 2020 to 2025
  • Unemployment 4.5%, up 0.1 points from a year ago
  • Sectors adding the most jobs: health care (+21,823 jobs), construction (+8,057 jobs)
  • Sectors losing the most jobs: admin & staffing (−7,022 jobs), transportation & warehousing (−4,496 jobs)

Local job-market news

Recent headlines about layoffs, AI and jobs in Kentucky. Each link goes to the publisher.

Learn and get funded in Kentucky

Kentucky layoffs

  • 44

    Layoff notices, last 12 months

  • 4,907

    workers named

    A floor: states may leave out counts

  • 31

    employers

Layoff notices filed in Kentucky, newest first
Notice dateEmployerCity or countyWorkersTypeSource
Family EndeavorsTakes effect Dec 31, 2026Jefferson County7LayoffState record
Akebono Brake CorporationTakes effect Jul 1, 2027Hardin County26ClosureState record
Congo BrandsTakes effect Dec 28, 2026Jefferson County4LayoffState record
Leggett & PlattTakes effect Dec 21, 2026Grayson County145ClosureState record
PARSONS CORPORATIONTakes effect Dec 17, 2026Madison County10ClosureState record
RNDC of Kentucky, LLCTakes effect Oct 16, 2026Jefferson County - Louisville County206LayoffState record
RNDC of Kentucky, LLCTakes effect Dec 8, 2026Jefferson County - Louisville County7LayoffState record
PARSONS CORPORATIONTakes effect Nov 19, 2026Madison County2ClosureState record
Congo Brands (Alani, Prime, 3D Energy)Takes effect Nov 4, 2026Jefferson County15LayoffState record
SMBC ManubankTakes effect Oct 9, 2026Out of the State County1ClosureState record

All layoff notices in the state

Get an email when a new notice is filed for Kentucky

One email a day at most, only when there is something new. No account needed.

Employers hiring most in Kentucky

Employers with the most open professional roles on our job board right now.

  1. Deloitte71 open roles
  2. Humana60 open roles
  3. Amazon51 open roles
  4. Lumen44 open roles
  5. Norton Healthcare40 open roles
  6. Churchill Downs35 open roles
  7. Sazerac35 open roles
  8. BrightSpring Health Services34 open roles
  9. Confidential31 open roles
  10. Humana Government Business30 open roles
  11. GE Appliances28 open roles
  12. PwC27 open roles

Largest employers headquartered in Kentucky

Employee counts with a year are published figures (Wikidata). Other sizes are estimates from our company directory, not payroll counts.

Higher education in Kentucky

  • 34

    public and private non-profit colleges

    Source: IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education

  • about 311,500

    students enrolled

    Estimated from size bands

Largest colleges in Kentucky

Largest colleges in Kentucky
CollegeCityTypeStudents
University of KentuckyLexingtonPublic 4-year20,000+
University of LouisvilleLouisvillePublic 4-year20,000+
University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburgPrivate non-profit 4-year20,000+
Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsvillePrivate non-profit 4-year10,000–19,999
Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmondPublic 4-year10,000–19,999
Murray State UniversityMurrayPublic 4-year10,000–19,999
Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland HeightsPublic 4-year10,000–19,999
Western Kentucky UniversityBowling GreenPublic 4-year10,000–19,999
Morehead State UniversityMoreheadPublic 4-year5,000–9,999
Asbury Theological SeminaryWilmorePrivate non-profit 4-year1,000–4,999
Asbury UniversityWilmorePrivate non-profit 4-year1,000–4,999
Bellarmine UniversityLouisvillePrivate non-profit 4-year1,000–4,999

All 34 Kentucky colleges

Workforce development and job centers

The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving Kentucky. They offer free help with job search, training and filing for benefits.

Laid off in Kentucky? How to file for unemployment in Kentucky (steps, weekly amount and the appeal deadline).

73 American Job Centers in Kentucky

Job fairs and business events in Kentucky

Hiring events, career workshops, small-business counseling and startup events from chambers, job centers, workforce boards, colleges and economic-development groups in Kentucky.

Conferences in Kentucky

Industry conferences and trade shows held in Kentucky, the ones worth a trip for hiring managers and job seekers. 22 with dates announced.

  • AASHTO Annual Meeting

    Nov 15 to Nov 18, 2026 · Louisville, KY

    Paid ticket. Registration open; fee not seen.

  • KACo Conference & Exposition

    Nov 18 to Nov 20, 2026 · Lexington, KY

    Ticket $469 to $569. $469 members, $569 non-members; early bird ends Nov 4; spouse registration free.

  • Kentucky Chamber Day Dinner

    Jan 7, 2027 · Lexington, KY

    Ticket $199 to $349. $349 non-members, $249 Chamber members, $199 local chamber staff; tables of 10 from $1,650.

  • Kentucky Workforce Summit

    Feb 9 to Feb 10, 2027 · Lexington, KY

    Ticket $599 to $699. $699 non-members; $599 Chamber, non-profit and government.

  • USASBE Annual Conference

    Feb 10 to Feb 13, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Ticket $720 to $905. $720 current member; $905 new/renewing member; $815 new/renewing student (all include membership as…

    Open call for speakers · deadline Oct 13, 2026

  • NCTM Spring Conferences (Louisville and Seattle)

    Feb 18 to Mar 19, 2027 · Louisville / Seattle, KY

    Paid ticket. Seattle early-bird ends Jan 20, 2027, regular rate ends Mar 16. Prices not captured.

  • KSBA Annual Conference

    Feb 19 to Feb 21, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Paid ticket. Registration fee not shown on the conference page; exhibitor booth $1,350.

    Open call for speakers · deadline Oct 25, 2026

  • ASQ Lean and Six Sigma Conference

    Feb 28 to Mar 2, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Paid ticket. Prices not read.

    Open call for speakers · deadline Jul 21, 2026

  • Kentucky Healthcare Innovation Summit

    Mar 3, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Ticket $299 to $399. $299 Chamber members, non-profits and government; $399 non-members. Registration opening soon.

  • Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS)

    Mar 18 to Mar 20, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Free. 2026 attendee registration was free (closed Feb 26, 2026); 2027 registration window not yet posted.

  • AAPPR Advancing Connections (physician recruiters)

    Mar 23 to Mar 25, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Paid ticket. 2027 rates not yet posted; displayed rates are 2026. Pre-conference courses Mar 22-23.

  • KEA Delegate Assembly

    Apr 1 to Apr 2, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    By invitation only. Delegates are elected by their local; no public registration fee listed.

  • RILA Retail Asset Protection Conference

    May 4 to May 7, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Paid ticket. Registration and team rates on RILA's rate page; amounts not shown.

  • Fastener Fair USA

    May 19 to May 20, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Free expo, paid sessions. Site also mentions Charlotte; Louisville supported by FAQ.

  • IISE Annual Conference & Expo

    May 22 to May 25, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Paid ticket. Prices on separate Registration and Fees page, not read.

    Open call for speakers · deadline Nov 8, 2026

  • Area Development Spring Consultants Forum (Louisville)

    Jun 7 to Jun 9, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Free expo, paid sessions. Omni Louisville; dates from an official-domain search result; pricing and eligibility not read.

  • ACUHO-I Campus Home. LIVE!

    Jun 21 to Jun 24, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Ticket $855 to $1,385. Campus-based professional, US: member $855 priority (to Aug 31, 2026), $935 early (to Mar 18, 2027), $995…

  • KMA Annual Meeting

    Aug 21 to Aug 22, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Free expo, paid sessions. No 2027 price posted; save-the-date only.

  • KYSHRM State Conference 2027

    Aug 31 to Sep 2, 2027 · Lexington, KY

    Paid ticket, price not listed

  • Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference

    Sep 8 to Sep 11, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Paid ticket. 2027 fees not yet posted.

    Open call for speakers

  • FPDA Industry Summit

    Sep 20 to Sep 22, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Apply to attend. No standalone summit ticket; the FLM program fee ($5,100 with a volunteer mentor, $5,600 without) covers two…

  • IFDA Solutions Conference

    Sep 26 to Sep 28, 2027 · Louisville, KY

    Paid ticket. Pricing not published on the pages read.

  • Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention

    Usually June (next dates not announced) · Covington, KY

    Paid ticket. 2027 dates, location and fees not posted; contact kybar@kybar.org.

    Open call for speakers · deadline Sep 18, 2026

  • KLC Conference & Expo

    Usually September (next dates not announced) · Covington, KY

    Paid ticket. 2026 edition (Sept 22-25, Covington) has ended; 2027 dates and fees not yet posted. 2024 rate was $469 member, $569…

Showing 24 of 29 conferences, 22 with dates announced.

All conferences

Kentucky counties

Each county page has its own unemployment, layoffs, job openings, employers, colleges and job centers.

Show all 120

Kentucky cities

Cities with open jobs, layoff notices, a job center or a college.

Show all 110

Laid off or looking for work in Kentucky?

See what to do first, what Kentucky unemployment benefits pay, and the jobs open near you.

See your options after a layoff

Sources: Census Bureau and BLS for population, income and unemployment; layoff notices from Kentucky’s published record; job counts from our live job board, taken from employers’ own career sites; IPEDS for colleges; CareerOneStop for workforce boards and job centers. Kentucky unemployment benefits and severance rules.

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