Eastern Kentucky’s workforce system is delivering nationally competitive results while generating substantial returns for taxpayers, according to new federal performance data and two independent economic analyses of programs operated by Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP).
The findings bring together two measures of EKCEP’s impact: how effectively the organization is serving workers and jobseekers, and the economic value those services are producing for Kentucky.
In the U.S. Department of Labor’s Program Year 2024 performance data—measuring performance from July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025—EKCEP achieved a 98.4% Measurable Skill Gains rate, ranking No. 5 nationally among local workforce development boards. Measurable Skill Gains are one of the federally required performance indicators under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and track whether participants in education or training are making documented progress in their skills while receiving workforce services. EKCEP’s rate shows that nearly every participant included in the measure was making documented progress in education or training designed to build skills and move them closer to credentials and employment.
Crucially, EKCEP achieved this top-tier performance outcome while operating at a scale that places it among the nation’s larger local workforce systems. In national data covering more than 500 local workforce boards, EKCEP ranks in the top 10 for Adult Exiters, Adult Participants Served, and Adult Trained Participants, and No. 18 in Youth Participants Served.
“These numbers prove that EKCEP is not just achieving strong outcomes with a small sample size,” said Rebecca Miller, Executive Director of EKCEP. “We are serving people at a scale that places us among the nation’s larger local workforce systems, across some of its most challenging rural terrain, while producing top-tier results for the jobseekers and employers who count on us.”
Alongside the national performance standings, two separate economic impact analyses conducted by Lightcast, an independent labor market analytics firm, highlight the substantial financial returns generated across EKCEP’s workforce initiatives.
For EKCEP’s WIOA-funded programs, which provide employment and training services for jobseekers and workers, Lightcast found that every $1 invested is projected to return $10.33 in benefits to Kentucky taxpayers. That means a $9.89 million public investment is projected to generate more than $102 million in benefits over 10 years, largely through increased tax revenue and public-sector savings as participants enter employment and increase their earnings.
The analysis also found approximately $70.5 million in adjusted annual earnings gains associated with participants served by EKCEP. Among participants included in the study, employment increased from 18% before enrollment to an estimated 55% after participation. Lightcast projects that taxpayers will recover the original investment in approximately 1.1 years.
In a separate study, Lightcast examined Prosper Appalachia, EKCEP’s in-school youth program that helps high school students explore careers, develop individualized career plans, gain paid work experience, and connect with employers. The program is supported through WIOA Youth funding and a significant investment from the Kentucky General Assembly through its Putting Young Kentuckians to Work initiative.
Lightcast found that Prosper Appalachia is projected to return $4.71 in taxpayer benefits for every $1 invested. During PY 2024–2026, the program served 4,414 young Kentuckians and is projected to generate $47.28 million in taxpayer benefits.
That economic return reflects significant changes in participants’ employment and earnings. Only 3% of Prosper Appalachia participants were employed before entering the program, compared with 43% following participation. Lightcast estimated more than $26 million in adjusted annual earnings gains associated with the young people served through Prosper Appalachia and projects that the original taxpayer investment will be recovered in approximately 2.6 years.
Importantly, both Lightcast analyses use a conservative, taxpayer-focused approach, measuring returns through added public revenue and government savings. Even without counting the broader benefits to workers, employers, and communities, the studies project substantial returns on the public investment.
“When jobseekers increase their skills and step into meaningful employment, the entire Commonwealth benefits,” Miller said. “Higher earnings strengthen families and local economies, generate additional public revenue, and can reduce demand for public services. These findings show that investing in workforce development delivers returns that extend far beyond the individual worker.”
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network. Learn more at ekcep.org.