‘Can’t leave my mountains.’ Will there be jobs in E. Ky. for these grads after college?

In our Uniquely Kentucky stories, Herald-Leader journalists bring you the quirky and cool, historic and infamous, beloved and unforgettable, and everything-in-between stories of what makes our commonwealth remarkable. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com.

When the seniors who got their diplomas at Harlan County High School this year started first grade in the late summer of 2012, the coal industry that had fed Eastern Kentucky families for generations — sometimes better than others — was in free fall.

Coal employment in the mountainous county averaged 2,310 workers throughout 2011.

But by Christmas break of 2012, state records indicate that number had plummeted to 1,367 , a loss of almost 1,000 good paychecks, with more layoffs to come.

As the Class of 2024 worked its way toward graduation, substance abuse frayed many families and the level of poverty remained stubbornly high.

The Appalachian Regional Commission estimated the poverty rate this fiscal year at 33.6% , far higher than the national level of 12.6%, and higher than when they started school, when the ARC estimated the rate was 30.1 % .

Those hardships touched some members of the Class of 2024.

Macy Saylor, 19, went to live with her grandparents after the death of her mother, who had struggled with mental-health and drug problems, and after her father’s abuse of alcohol, methamphetamine and opioid drugs spiraled out of control.

He spent some time in jail. Saylor thinks he is sober now, but she doesn’t see him much.

Those experiences have fired her determination to do better, for herself and her home. She plans to go to Union College in Barbourville to study biology and someday work in the medical field.

“I’m not gonna follow in their footsteps,” Saylor said of her parents. “I want to help other people.”

Hard times in the county may have knocked down some members of the Class of 2024, but not most of them. Many have big plans in engineering, medicine, education and other fields. One wants to be Kentucky’s poet laureate.

There have been questions about the future of Eastern Kentucky, in part because of the demise of the once-dominant coal industry and a declining population. A good number of students who leave for college outside the region don’t come back.

So, do members of the Class of 2024 plan to come home? The Herald-Leader talked with more than a dozen of them shortly before graduation about their place and their plans.

‘Close-knit community’

It’s clear the students hold a deep pride in their place, in the beauty of the mountains, the sense of community, the willingness of people to help each other.

“You’ll never meet people that are nicer than the people around here,” said Lesleigh Brown, who said she plans to major in biology at Alice Lloyd College in Knott County and then go to the optometry school at the University of Pikeville.

“I guarantee you 98% of the people here would help you,” said Mason Beach, who plans to study exercise science at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn., and then go to physical therapy school. “They’re dealing with their own problems and they’re still willing to help you.”

“There are so many people who are passionate about making Harlan County better,” said Avery Thomas, who plans to study English at Berea College and teach high school.

The fact that many people know each other — and have a shared blue-collar history over generations of family working in the coal mines — helps meld a sense of community.

“That close-knit community has kind of persisted,” said Jacob Shoemaker, who plans to major in electrical engineering and minor in computer science at the University of Kentucky.

The students know some of their classmates have been touched by drug abuse or don’t have much money, but said they don’t look down on each other over financial status.

“There’s no clear divisions,” said Kaydince Williamson, who plans to major in secondary education.

Despite the unflattering statistics, most people in the county work hard and are not poor or on drugs, the students said.

If one-third of the people are considered economically poor, that means two-thirds are not.

Despite that, the idea of poverty still defines the county for many people elsewhere.

But it shouldn’t, the students said.

“It’s a layered area. There’s multitudes. There’s good, there’s bad,” said Adrianna Hockenberry, who wrote and directed a play performed at the school last spring and plans to attend Morehead State University to major in theater. “I think a lot of people overlook like just how much talent and knowledge can come out of areas like Harlan.”

“Our people can do all these great things,” said Michael Scott Merrill, who will report to the U.S. Navy soon to study nuclear propulsion technology, with a dream of becoming a pilot.

Those unflattering statistics also don’t account for the spirit and resilience of the people, the students said.

“I’ve been inspired by so many people here,” said Jacey Collins, who plans to pursue a degree in education online from the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg.

“I guess I would just want people to know there’s good things here, there’s good people,” said Caleb Johnson, who plans to major in environmental science or business in college.

The students have had to deal with stereotypes at times.

Shoemaker said other students seemed surprised about his ability in robotics when he attended the Governor’s Scholars Program, a competitive summer residential program for rising seniors aimed at enhancing the next generation of civic and economic leaders in Kentucky.

“People were surprised that I knew how to code stuff, how to build stuff, how to do the math for it,” he said.

Johnson, who played on the Harlan County High team that was runner-up in the 2024 Kentucky Boy’s Sweet 16 basketball tournament, said once when they were playing in another Appalachian county, a fan for the other team shouted that he would give Johnson $2 for making a shot, saying he knew that would be a lot of money for someone from Harlan County.

“We’re not all as poor as people think,” he said.

Students said people outside the area had remarked on their accent, and William Cassim said someone made a remark about wearing shoes to his sister, who is in a medical residency program at UK.

He said the negative image some people hold stokes a determination to prove them wrong.

The attitude is “I’m gonna show these people,” said Cassim, who plans to study mechanical engineering and business at UK. “It’s a pride thing. I think we are uniquely qualified to be successful and change the world.”

Others share that determination.

“We want to prove that we are just as good, if not better, than the rest of the world,” Beach said.

‘Future opportunities’

So do they plan to come home after college? The thinking is mixed.

“I would love for my kids to grow up here,” said Jenna Wilson, who plans to attend Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond.

One key reason is simply that it’s home. They want to be near family and to have their children grow up with the same experiences they had.

“I just really couldn’t see myself anyplace else,” Johnson said.

Merrill said if he doesn’t get back to Harlan County after his time in the military, he’ll end up somewhere nearby in Appalachia.

“I can’t leave my mountains,” said Merrill, whose father retired from the coal industry.

Others are undecided about coming back, or think they don’t want to.

Thomas said she loves Harlan County, but said the lack of racial and other diversity can feel a bit stifling.

“I want bigger, more diverse communities,” she said.

Williamson said she wants her children to grow up somewhere with more diversity and greater access to amenities such as museums and plays.

“I want them to be in an environment where there’s a lot of different people and they have a lot of different experiences . . .,” she said.

Emma Penny, who wants to attend Southeast Community and Technical College in Harlan County to study medical assisting, and perhaps ultimately go to medical school, said she worries “that I would not be giving my future kids the opportunities that other kids have” if she stays in Harlan County.

Even if she doesn’t, though, she wants to stay in Kentucky and be close to family.

Employment projections indicate there will likely be fewer jobs at home in Harlan County in a few years.

There were 6,470 jobs in the county in 2022. That will go down to 5,893 in 2027 , according to a projection by the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, part of UK’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

That projection is subject to change by intervening events, and local leaders and business people are trying to change it.

County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley said the county developed an industrial site to try to attract jobs and is working on other projects to improve the economy and the quality of life, including expanding high-speed internet and building a wellness and recreation center in an abandoned retail space at the mall in Harlan.

“Our goal has been to make our county a place where people want to live,” he said.

Mosley said there also is a strong entrepreneurial spirit in the county, with people opening dozens of new businesses in recent years.

Several of the graduating seniors said they hope there will be more jobs in the county someday, but aren’t sure there will be good opportunities for them in the county after college.

Taelor Haywood said he is leaning toward not moving home after he attends the University of the Cumberlands to prepare for a career in physical therapy.

“It’s more for my future opportunities,” said Haywood.

“I would love to say here, but there’s no economic opportunity here, especially in what I want to do,” said Mason Combs.

Combs, whose father was a coal miner before being injured in a rock fall, plans to attend the University of North Georgia, a military college, to major in strategic and security studies, then join the Army and perhaps ultimately work in the national security field.

Cassim said he doesn’t plan moving back to Harlan County after college, but will keep a close connection.

“My kids will have ties to Harlan and they’ll be proud to be from Harlan County,” he said.

Shoemaker, whose grandfather was a coal miner, said he’s not sure he’ll be able to come home, but would like to.

“I’d say not to count us out,” he said.