Business community shares success of Chamber’s Military Hiring Academy with lawmakers – The Bottom Line

As Kentucky is experiencing a significant worker shortage, the Kentucky Chamber Foundation is leading initiatives to assist businesses in attracting, developing, and retaining talent.  

In a testimony on Wednesday before the Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection, Kentucky Chamber Senior Manager of Public Affairs John Hughes and Foundation Workforce Development Manager Callie Miracle showcased the significant impact of the Military Hiring Academy program and how it bridges the gap between businesses and military talent across the Commonwealth.

As 8,000 military personnel transition from active service each year in Kentucky, Miracle said their group is a valuable talent pool for Kentucky businesses. She also shared that the workforce participation rate of military personnel is 79.4%, higher than Kentucky and the nation’s rate.

“I’m thrilled to share the work of the Military Hiring Academy,” Miracle said. “Military personnel bring a unique set of skills and education to our workforce. When you think about hiring veterans, it’s a smart business decision.”

The Military Hiring Academy aims to equip businesses with the tools and knowledge to effectively recruit and retain military talent, resulting in stronger companies and more opportunities for our service members to stay in Kentucky.

The training program, launched in 2024, provides comprehensive training to human resources professionals, hiring managers, and other business leaders, teaching them to interpret military resumes, understand military culture, and recognize the unique skills veterans and military spouses bring to civilian jobs.

Since its inception, the Military Hiring Academy has trained 57 companies in several industries, including construction, education, logistics, and distilling. These companies have already facilitated the hiring of military talent using the knowledge and connections they gained from the program.

Following the testimony, Rep. Matthew Koch, who has been involved in the Academy, said that he is glad the Chamber is leading the charge on this and that this program is shedding light on the value of this talent pool to our Commonwealth.

“I just want to thank the Chamber for everything they’re doing on this. I’ve already seen this is starting to spur off and get other agencies and other companies to look into this and realize what a huge untapped workforce is out there,” Rep. Koch said.

To learn more about the Military Hiring Academy, visit kychamber.com/militaryhiringacademy.