FRANKFORT, KY - On May 15, 2025, Gov. Andy Beshear said the commonwealth has once again secured a new job growth record. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in April, the number of people employed, the number of filled jobs and the civilian labor force in Kentucky were at their highest point in the state’s history.

“More than ever before, we are getting people to work and filling more jobs,” Gov. Beshear said. “This is great news for our families, and it’s very appealing to companies looking to invest in the commonwealth.” 

April’s report confirms that Kentucky reached new highs for each of these three-monthly metrics:

• The number of people employed in April increased to 2,009,018.
• Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,118,333 in April 2025.
• The number of filled jobs increased to 2,052,400.

Earlier this month, the Governor provided an update on Kentucky’s labor market and reported that not only have labor force numbers fully rebounded from the pandemic, but they are at their highest levels since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics started keeping record.

April’s labor report, issued today, broke March’s record. The number of people employed in April increased by 2,550 from March 2025. Kentucky’s civilian labor force increased by 752 individuals from March 2025. And the number of filled jobs increased by 400 from March 2025. Estimates are preliminary and are subject to monthly and annual revisions. 

Earlier today, the Governor highlighted new investment in Kentucky’s workforce development initiatives to further maintain and advance the commonwealth’s thriving economy. Over 11,700 Kentuckians will receive skills training thanks to support provided through the Bluegrass State Skills Corp. that helps private-sector businesses establish industry-specific training initiatives.

Kentucky’s investment in workforce development builds on the best five-year period for economic growth in state history.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,100 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $35 billion in announced investments, creating more than 60,500 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $14 billion more than the next highest total.

The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time.