Hopkins County CES

County Emphasis:

Developing Work and Life Skills Throughout the Lifespan.

Concentration 1:

Work and Life Skill Development

Concentration 2:

Financial Security and Economic Well-Being

Situation:

Kentucky faces significant economic challenges, with a median household income of approximately $55,100—just 74% of the U.S. median—and nearly 62% of households falling short of a living wage. Additionally, 39% of Kentuckians live in economically distressed communities, more than double the national rate. Rising costs of living in areas like housing and groceries further strain household budgets, leaving many families struggling to achieve financial stability.

According to the 2023 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment, Kentuckians identified Building Financial Literacy, Life Skills, and Employee Soft Skills among the top statewide priorities. Increasing the employment-population ratio—particularly among working-age adults—is critical for Kentucky’s economic future, as noted by the Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research (2024).

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) is responding through educational programs that enhance workforce readiness, financial literacy, family resource management, and support for small businesses. These initiatives aim to increase human capital, improve financial security, and empower individuals and communities to thrive in a changing economic landscape.

Youth 

Economic uncertainty and shifting job markets in Kentucky are impacting youth through unstable family environments and limited opportunities. While industries like tourism and retail are growing, unemployment has risen by 4.7%, and many families lack the resources to support youth development.

With over 2.4 million job openings in Kentucky and most future jobs not yet invented, young people must build adaptable skills like leadership, communication, and resilience. The 2023 UK Cooperative Extension Needs Assessment highlights youth workforce readiness, life skills, and financial literacy as top priorities.

Kentucky 4-H addresses these needs through hands-on programs that empower youth to explore careers, build confidence, and prepare for college and work. In 2024, 95% of 4-Hers said the program helped them discover their strengths, and 80% explored career options. Kentucky 4-H is helping youth thrive in today’s changing world.

County Situation:

Hopkins County faces many of the same economic challenges seen across Kentucky. The county's 2021 median household income was $47,014—below both the state average ($55,454) and national average ($69,021)—with 20% of the population living in poverty. Although the county’s labor force participation rate (55%) mirrors Kentucky’s (59%), it remains lower than the national average (63%), highlighting a need to strengthen workforce engagement. 

Employment in Hopkins County is heavily concentrated in Healthcare & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Manufacturing, which together account for nearly half of local jobs. Mining, Oil & Gas Extraction remains highly concentrated (Location Quotient of 7.36), making the county more economically vulnerable to shifts in those industries. From 2017 to 2022, the county saw no net job growth, and projections through 2027 predict continued stagnation. 

In 2022, unemployment rates in Hopkins County paralleled state and national trends, although workforce wages remain a concern. Most employment is among those with a high school diploma or some college education, but earnings gaps persist between males and females at every education level. Notably, males with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $90,711 compared to $55,236 for females. 

Out-commuting is another challenge: as of 2021, more residents (8,509) left Hopkins County daily for work than stayed (8,389), with higher earners particularly likely to seek jobs elsewhere. Youth employment also reflects economic strain; workers aged 14–21 earn just $22,684 annually on average. 

Building financial literacy, life skills, and soft skills has emerged as a critical local and statewide priority, as identified in the 2023 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment. Increasing the employment-population ratio, especially among young and working-age adults, is essential to Hopkins County’s future prosperity. 

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) in Hopkins County is responding through programs that enhance workforce readiness, strengthen family financial management, support entrepreneurship, and foster youth development. These initiatives aim to grow human capital, boost financial security, and empower individuals and communities to adapt and thrive in a changing economy. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

•    Increased human capital among Kentuckians

•    Decrease in state unemployment rates

•    Improved quality of workforce

•    Youth will demonstrate necessary leadership, teamwork, and communication skills needed to be successful in the workplace. 

•    Youth participation in community involvement increases.

•    Youth will serve in leadership roles in their community.

•    Youth will more effectively communicate, work with others, and contribute to driving change and shaping the future. 

•    Youth will become engaged, healthy, and productive members of their communities.

Intermediate Outcomes:

•    Increased implementation of employability strategies/skills

•    Increased salary/income

•    Increased employment

•    Youth will practice teamwork, responsibility, communication, conflict resolution techniques, and problem-solving skills.

•    Youth will plan and implement a service project.

•    Youth will choose to take on leadership roles in their community.

Initial Outcomes:

Short-term 

Outcomes    Strengthening work and life skills, including but not limited to, developing workforce development skills, employability and interpersonal skills, and work-life management strategies. 

•    Developed skills related to workforce development

•    Improved employability and interpersonal skills

•    Increased confidence to implement employability strategies

•    Developed strategies for maintaining a health work-life balance

•    Youth identify personal strengths that contribute to life and work skill development.

•    Increased knowledge of career pathways.

•    Increased knowledge of educational, training, and certification opportunities.

•    Youth will practice civic engagement, leadership and communication skills.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Developed skills related to workforce development (initial)

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported learning new skills to prepare or improved themselves for the workforce as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Outcome: Improved employability and/or interpersonal skills (e.g., job interview skills, communication, networking, time management) (initial)

Indicator: (1) Number of participants who reported improvement in job interview skills; (2) Number of participants who reported improvement in personal skills.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration or follow-up evaluation

Outcome: Increased confidence to implement employability strategies (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported improvement in their confidence to implement employment strategies as a result of participation.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Outcome: Developed strategies for work-life management (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported that they learned strategies for managing their work-life responsibilities as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Outcome: Implementation of employability strategies/skills (intermediate)

Indicator: Number of participants who developed a resume as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Repeated self-reported surveys and/or follow-up evaluations to capture action/behavior change over time.

Outcome: Increased salary/income/employment (intermediate)

Indicator: (1) Number of participants who gained an increase in salary/income as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach; (2) Number of participants who gained new employment as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Documentation (direct report, repeated survey) or interviews

Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and project progress

Outcome: Increased practical skills in trades and craft-based industries (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants reporting gaining a new skill through hands-on instruction or workshops in trades or craft-based skills (e.g. woodworking, painting, metalworking, hand-building).

Method: Self-reported surveys collected immediately after workshop participation.

Timeline: Post-program survey administration with optional 6 months follow up to assess skill application

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Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees 

Project or Activity: Development of Time Management Skills 

Content or Curriculum: Time Well Spent, Productivity Skills for Success Curriculum, publications, newsletters, Leader Lessons, podcast, etc. 

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, non-profit organizations, schools, Chamber of Commerce, business, etc. 

Date: Ongoing 

Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees 

Project or Activity: Development of Employability Skills 

Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability, Preparing for Financial Success Curriculum, publications, newsletters, podcast

Inputs: Programmatic Materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, non-profit organizations, schools, Court System, community centers, etc. 

Date:

Audience:

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Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date:

Evaluation:

Outcome: Developed skills related to workforce development (initial)

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported learning new skills to prepare or improved themselves for the workforce as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Outcome: Improved employability and/or interpersonal skills (e.g., job interview skills, communication, networking, time management) (initial)

Indicator: (1) Number of participants who reported improvement in job interview skills; (2) Number of participants who reported improvement in personal skills.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration or follow-up evaluation

Outcome: Increased confidence to implement employability strategies (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported improvement in their confidence to implement employment strategies as a result of participation.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Outcome: Developed strategies for work-life management (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported that they learned strategies for managing their work-life responsibilities as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Outcome: Implementation of employability strategies/skills (intermediate)

Indicator: Number of participants who developed a resume as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Repeated self-reported surveys and/or follow-up evaluations to capture action/behavior change over time.

Outcome: Increased salary/income/employment (intermediate)

Indicator: (1) Number of participants who gained an increase in salary/income as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach; (2) Number of participants who gained new employment as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Documentation (direct report, repeated survey) or interviews

Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and project progress

Outcome: Increased practical skills in trades and craft-based industries (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants reporting gaining a new skill through hands-on instruction or workshops in trades or craft-based skills (e.g. woodworking, painting, metalworking, hand-building).

Method: Self-reported surveys collected immediately after workshop participation.

Timeline: Post-program survey administration with optional 6 months follow up to assess skill application

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Method:

Timeline:

Long-term Outcome:

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