To address the issue of unemployment and underemployment, the Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service collaborated with the University of Kentucky (UK) Alumni Association and UK Human Resources to initiate the Central Kentucky Job Club in 2013. The purpose of the Job Club is to provide a positive environment for motivated job seekers to meet, connect, share and learn.  Job Club partners also partner with 300+ local businesses, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, local unemployment services and government to provide support to those who have been laid off, gone through an unexpected job loss or looking to make a career transition.  The purpose of Job Club is to provide a positive environment for motivated job seekers to meet, connect, share and learn. The free group is open to the public and meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, from 9:00–10:15 a.m. at the Fayette County Extension Center.  Job Club is a unique example of UK’s land grant mission, providing a vital link between campus and community by disseminating research-based job search strategies to local citizens. Participants receive and improve skills needed to compete in today’s workplaces that include LinkedIn, networking, financial management, online job searching, resumes mock interviews in addition to financial guidance on managing in tough times. As a bonus, Job Club attendees gain timely information regarding additional partnering programs including Extension, Alumni Career Services and HR resources and opportunities. 

Impact: Since its inception, 2,160 job seekers and 281 employment recruiters have benefited from attending with 215 participants reporting new employment. The six year return on investment has a current value of $8.6 million. In 2019, there were 711 new attendees, 1512 total attendees and 22 jobs secured throughout 23 sessions.  Eighty-six percent of past participants reported improving their employability as a result of Job Club.  As a result of COVID-19, Job Club begin meeting via ZOOM Webinar in March 2020 and tripled its attendance (172) with statewide participation plus 14 states and Germany.  When Job Club returns to normalcy (face to face), an online meeting option will continue.