By definition, a business is a group of like-minded individuals striving daily to meet the same goals. The success of a business demands that each individual possess the intellect and skills needed to achieve those goals. In addition to having a strong work base to choose from in Union County, many residents from Henderson and Webster counties, as well as Southern Illinois, make up the county’s workforce. Residents from surrounding counties can comfortably reach their working destination in Union County within an hour’s drive. In Union County’s labor market area, its civilian labor force consists of nearly 150,000 people. No matter the skill level your company needs, you can find it in Union County’s large and diverse labor pool.

HCC FAME  

Henderson Community College (HCC) FAME is a work-and-learn opportunity for those wanting a great career and a college degree at the same time with little or no college debt. Kentucky FAME (Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) is based on the nationally recognized Toyota Advanced Manufacturing Technician and Computerized Manufacturing and Machining program. This program model allows participating students to earn an industry recognized degree while gaining valuable work experience in industrial maintenance.

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WORK READY COMMUNITY

The Kentucky Work Ready Community certification program from the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (KWIB) and the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet is a measure of a county’s quality workforce and assures employers that the local workforce has the talent and skills necessary to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies new jobs will require.

To become certified, communities must gather local support and commitment and apply for the Kentucky Work Ready Communities designation. Counties have to meet criteria in six areas including high school graduation rate, National Career Readiness Certificate holders, demonstrate community commitment, education attainment, soft-skills development, and digital literacy.

Union County was certified as a Kentucky Work Ready Community in 2015 and continues to prove that we are a community committed to making strides and working with our business, education, workforce, and economic development leaders to set and meet common goals that will give the county an economic edge.