Code Louisville to shut down after 13 years as tech job market shifts

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville-based tech training program that helped launch hundreds of coding careers will shut down later this year.

There are more than 300 people in the Code Louisville class that started last month, but this class will be the last, as the jobs they're training for are now being taken by AI.

“The tech market has just changed dramatically over the last few years,” program director Brian Luehman said. “We presented options and ultimately made a decision that we are not serving our purpose of helping enough people get jobs, and that’s what led to the decision.”

Kentuckiana Works, which operates the program, confirmed the statewide initiative will officially end this year.

Launched 13 years ago, Code Louisville was created to address a shortage of trained coders by offering free, publicly funded tech training to local residents.

According to Kentuckiana Works, more than 1,400 graduates went on to find jobs in technology-related roles.

But leaders said the landscape has changed.

"Artificial intelligence has come into play and dramatically changed the landscape and then nationwide layoffs in mass in the tech field are all critical impacts that have, unfortunately, made it challenging for programs like ours to exist," said Luehman.

Code Louisville expanded statewide as Code U. Kentuckiana Works said the entire program will end in September.

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