Governor’s Council of Second Chance Employers

On October 17, 2024, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order to establish the Governor’s Council of Second Chance Employers. This council aims to promote second-chance hiring practices, improve reentry outcomes for individuals released from incarceration, and reduce recidivism rates in the state. The council will meet quarterly and provide annual reports to the Governor.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to support individuals who have served their sentences by enhancing their employability through skills development. The Governor has emphasized the importance of helping former inmates secure meaningful employment to foster safer communities and enhance public safety.

Governor Beshear's administration has also launched a website to assist Kentuckians in finding jobs and educational opportunities and 

has initiated various programs to train businesses in hiring second-chance employees. The state has seen significant investments and job creation under Governor Beshear’s leadership, alongside a decline in overdose deaths and an expansion of treatment resources for those in recovery.

Furthermore, Kentucky has seen significant job creation over the last 4 years, with more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $32.8 billion in investments have been announced, creating 55,000 jobs. These are high-quality, good-paying jobs that sustain families and communities with an average incentivized hourly wage that topped $26 in 2022 and 2023.