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Kentucky's Economy Expected to Grow In 2017

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Kentucky.com

 Veteran economist Chris Bollinger predicted 2.2 percent  economic growth across Kentucky in 2017

 Veteran economist Chris Bollinger predicted a 2.2. percent economic growth across Kentucky in 2017 Tuesday

Bollinger, director of the University of Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research said much of the employment gains will be seen in health and service jobs. Bollinger said there are lots options when it comes to economic advances in the state’s rural communities. He spoke at the UK Economic Outlook Conference.

“This is something in our economy that maybe we need to take a closer look at from a policy perspective which is both the matching of workers to jobs geographically and the matching of workers to the skills that are needed, ” he said.

Bollinger said it’s too soon to predict economic winners and losers under the new Trump administration. But, he said, changes in trade rules will be felt in Kentucky.

“Trade wars in general are bad for the economy.  Shutting down trade has been shown historically again and again to be a problem for the economy because we export a fair amount in Kentucky,” he said.

 

 

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Stu has been reporting for WEKU for more than 35 years. His primary beat is Lexington/Fayette government.