Will Employment Growth Benefit All Households? A Case Study in Nine Nonmetro Kentucky Counties

Overall employment growth in a rural area will probably not benefit all households or residents in that area. In a nine-county area of south-central Kentucky, rapid employment growth between 1974 and 1979 did create new job opportunities. However, only 18 percent of the households had members who took advantage of new jobs. The employment growth also did not reduce the area's overall poverty level. About as many households fell into poverty as left the poverty ranks during the study period. Some population groups, such as households headed by women, remained economically disadvantaged despite the area's growth. Other groups, such as the elderly, maintained their income status by relying on public and private income transfer programs.