Pulaski County Economy
economics
Chris Girdler President / CEO of SPEDA
As a 7th generation Pulaski Countian , I ’ ve long said that there is literally nowhere else in this world I would rather live , work , play or raise my family than in Somerset and Pulaski County . Born and raised in the community of “ Possum Trot ‘’ I take great pride in my rural roots and count myself blessed having grown up in the greatest county in the Commonwealth of Kentucky .
Somerset and Pulaski County is a beacon of hope and a shining example of all that is right about rural America . We are a very patriotic , God-fearing community that at the core represents the founding ideals of the United States . Somerset is a regional leader in so many various facets and the excitement and overall vibe in our community over the last few years has been incredible to witness and be a small part of .
We are the “ Capital of Lake Cumberland ” and the leader in tourism , education , commercial and retail development , industrial recruitment , healthcare , agriculture , along with arts and cultural enrichment . Pulaski County is a snapshot of all the wonderful things Kentucky has to offer ; from the hills in the east , the waterways in the south , the beautiful farmland in the west and the beginning of the bluegrass region in the north .
I ’ ve worked tirelessly since founding SPEDA to ensure that we value our past , strengthen our present and build for our future . It has truly been a labor of love and a passion project for me and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to lead economic development for our community and region . During my time in the state legislature , it was always an incredible honor to be recognized on the floor of the Capitol as the “ Senator from Pulaski ”.
We have one of the most special and easily marketable places in America that we are blessed to call home . Pulaski County has an abundance of natural resources , a cooperative spirit , innovative leadership , and rich hospitality . I ’ ve often said , our cost of living is half and the quality of life is double as compared to many other places in our country .
The future has never been brighter . At the end of the day , our people are our greatest asset and I ’ m forever grateful to join many others in calling Somerset and Pulaski County home .
Pulaski County Economy
The economy of Pulaski County , KY employs 26.3k people . The largest industries in Pulaski County , KY are Health Care & Social Assistance ( 4,400 people ), Manufacturing ( 3,764 people ), and Retail Trade ( 3,232 people ), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($ 82,171 ), Professional , Scientific , & Technical Services ($ 50,698 ), and Mining , Quarrying , & Oil & Gas Extraction ($ 50,547 ).
Males in Kentucky have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females , which is $ 45,693 . The income inequality in Kentucky ( measured using the Gini index ) is 0.454 , which is lower than than the national average .
OCCUPATIONS
From 2019 to 2020 , employment in Pulaski County , KY grew at a rate of 1.9 %, from 25.9k employees to 26.3k employees .
The most common job groups , by number of people living in Pulaski County , KY , are Office & Administrative Support Occupations ( 3,377 people ), Sales & Related Occupations ( 2,875 people ), and Production Occupations ( 2,474 people ). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Pulaski County , KY .
MEDIAN EARNINGS BY INDUSTRY
The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Transportation & Warehousing , & Utilities ($ 52,350 ), Public Administration ($ 44,274 ), and Manufacturing ($ 41,678 ).
The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Educational Services , & Health Care & Social Assistance ($ 35,208 ), Finance & Insurance , & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($ 33,182 ), and Public Administration ($ 33,167 ).
16 2023-2024 Pulaski Community snapshot l a special publication of the Commonwealth Journal