FRANKFORT, Ky. — With Kentucky continuing to build on record economic momentum, Gov. Andy Beshear is designating October as Manufacturing Month in the commonwealth, highlighting a sector that employs nearly 250,000 Kentuckians across 5,000 operations.
“Manufacturing is at the heart of everything we do in terms of economic development in this state,” Gov. Beshear said. “This sector has been a driving force behind our recent success and will continue to be a pillar of our economy for generations to come. I want to thank every manufacturer across the commonwealth for their part in our continued success, as well as every single resident who works to produce Kentucky-made products that are distributed around the world.”
Manufacturing encourages growth in communities in every region of the state, providing high wages for Kentucky families across a diverse array of job opportunities. The commonwealth’s manufacturing presence is significant, with the sector represented by approximately 13% of the state’s workforce, compared with a national average of 8.5%. The industry also contributes to $37 billion of the state’s gross domestic product. Manufacturers are behind the success of numerous industries in Kentucky, including automotive, aerospace, distribution and logistics, metals, health care, food, beverage, agritech and many others.
Since the start of the Beshear administration, manufacturing projects have contributed to 475 private-sector new-location and expansion announcements that will create more than 25,300 full-time jobs for Kentuckians with over $18 billion in new investment.
Manufacturers were central to Kentucky’s record year for economic growth in 2021, responsible for over 93% of the $11.2 billion in announced investment and more than three-quarters of the 18,100 full-time jobs announced by private-sector companies last year.
That momentum has carried into 2022, with 83 manufacturing-related projects announced already this year that are contributing to nearly $6 billion in new investment and over 7,000 full-time jobs. The continued growth is highlighted by a wave of well-paying job opportunities for Kentuckians. Through September, Kentucky’s average incentivized hourly wage is $25.96 before benefits, an 8% increase over the full-year figure for 2021, which stood as the second-highest annual wage in seven years.
Frank Jemley, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, said Kentucky is a leader within the industry.
“It’s exciting to celebrate Manufacturing Month in the commonwealth and salute the quarter-million Kentuckians who work so hard to make so many world-class products,” Jemley said. “Manufacturing remains the backbone of the Kentucky economy, thanks to our exceptional workforce, low-cost business climate and central location. Kentucky is a manufacturing leader among the 50 states, and the world has noticed. That’s something we can all celebrate this month.”
Manufacturers looking to locate a new facility or expand existing operations are finding that the commonwealth provides all the needed resources to accommodate long-term growth. Kentucky’s ideal central geographic location places the state within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population and income. Combined with state-of-the-art infrastructure, Kentucky’s location allows manufacturers to quickly distribute products to key U.S. markets, while global air cargo hubs by UPS, DHL and Amazon in Louisville and Northern Kentucky provide fast and reliable distribution overnight anywhere in the world. Low business costs, including among the lowest industrial electric costs in the country, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensure companies can continue to grow and create great jobs for Kentuckians.
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