Although our service area in Eastern Kentucky has made progress in recent decades we still must overcome significant challenges if we are to remain viable and competitive in the 21st Century Global economy.



Workplace Competency - Too many of our workers, young and old alike, lack the necessary knowledge and skills to adapt to emerging technologies that keep businesses and industries competitive. Many lack even the basic competencies in reading, math, communications, problem solving, and decision making to participate as effective members in today's workplace. For our region to prosper, we must have a well-trained, competent and flexible workforce.

Adult Literacy - In this region, 50 percent of our workforce is "substandard" in literacy skills, with nearly 26 percent living below the poverty level. With only minimal skills, these citizens cannot contribute effectively in the marketplace and are not likely to make a meaningful impact in the region's economy. Adult illiteracy is a fundamental barrier to prosperity. Substandard literacy impacts this region, including early childhood education, education reform, economic development, and improving the health and well-being of Eastern Kentucky families and communities.

Earning Power - The per capita income of Kentuckians is only 81 percent of the national average. Without some education or training beyond high school, most workers can expect to earn little more than subsistence wages. Sadly, single-parent households, usually headed by women, remain the poorest of the working poor. Expanded access to postsecondary education and training is essential if Kentuckians are to advance to higher paying jobs in the 21st century.

Educational Attainment - Two-thirds of the new jobs created over the next five years will require some type of postsecondary education and training, especially in high-tech occupations. The 2000 census shows that only 22 percent of our citizens over the age of 25 have completed an associate or higher college degree. That translates into 78 percent of our current working-age adults who lack the postsecondary education and training to succeed in the jobs of the future. This problem is worsened by higher than average secondary school dropout rates, uneven access to postsecondary resources, and low motivation by many citizens to further their education.



Aging Workforce - Most of the workers available for the next 20 years are already on the job and are struggling to keep pace with the rapid change in technology and work processes. Because these "baby boomers" are expected to live and work longer than any previous generation in history, they will require continuous retraining at greater rates and for longer periods to meet the needs and expectations of business and industry in the new economy. Replacing skilled workers, as they retire, with workers who possess equal or greater skills is a serious issue for many employers over the next 10 to 15 years, especially in skilled trades.

Access to Education - Many Kentuckians are unable to access postsecondary education due to lack of basic skills, transportation, childcare, financial aid, or information about opportunities. Cultural, social, and ethnic heritage also prevent many students (and their parents and families) from placing value on postsecondary education. In the digital age, access to education means access to technology. On average, only 45 percent of Kentuckians have access to computers at home compared to 50 percent nationwide. And only 11 percent of Kentuckians with incomes below $15,000 have Internet access. Students without computers and Internet access at home or at work are at a disadvantage to students with these same resources. If these Kentuckians are to be full participants in the new economy, we must find a way to bridge this "digital divide."