Immigrants in
Kentucky
Kentucky has a sizable community of immigrants, over 40 percent of whom are naturalized. About 4.5 percent of the state's residents are foreign-born, and 2.2 percent of its U.S.-born residents live with at least one immigrant parent. Immigrants make up 5.9 percent of Kentucky's labor force and support the state's economy in many ways. They account for 8.9 percent of entrepreneurs and 7.5 percent of STEM workers in the state. As neighbors, business owners, taxpayers, and workers, immigrants are an integral part of Kentucky's diverse and thriving communities and make extensive contributions that benefit all.
Overview
202,900
Immigrant residents$5.2B
Immigrants spending power$1.7B
Immigrants taxes paid2023
Data yearDemographics
In the United States, immigrants are more likely to be working-age than their U.S.-born counterparts. This means they are more likely to be active in the labor force, allowing them to contribute to the economy not only as consumers but also as taxpayers, helping fund social services and programs like Medicare and Social Security.
| Age Group | Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|---|
| 0-15 | 7.4% | 20.3% |
| 16-64 | 81.6% | 61.7% |
| 65+ | 11.0% | 18.0% |
49.4%
Share of immigrants who are women50.6%
Share of immigrants who are men18,100
Number of immigrant children95,900
Number of U.S.-born residents living with at least one immigrant parent72.8%
Share of Foreign-Born that are proficient in EnglishTop countries of origin for immigrants
Entrepreneurship
It is hard to overstate the importance of entrepreneurship since new businesses are the main driver of job growth in the United States. Immigrants play a particularly important role in this—founding businesses at far higher rates than the U.S. population overall. Today, millions of American workers are employed at immigrant-founded and immigrant-owned companies.
17,100
Immigrant entrepreneurs$288.0M
Total business income of immigrant entrepreneursTAXES & SPENDING POWER
Immigrant households contribute hundreds of billions of dollars in federal, state, and local taxes and hold a tremendous amount of spending power. This gives them significant economic clout, helping support local communities as consumers and taxpayers. Like all residents of the United States, regardless of where they were born, immigrants make use of public services like education, healthcare, and public safety. Even with these costs, however, immigrants’ economic contributions far outweigh the cost of additional public services they incur.
$7.0B
Immigrant household income$5.2B
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $684.7M |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $1.1B |
| Total Taxes Paid | $1.7B |
$712.6M
Immigrants’ contributions to Social Security$184.3M
Immigrants’ contributions to MedicareWorkforce
The growth in the immigrant population has helped to strengthen America’s labor force. As baby boomers retire, younger immigrants are filling crucial gaps in the labor market. Nationally, immigrants are more likely to hold an advanced degree than the U.S.-born. They are also more likely to have less than a high school education. As such, they are able to fill critical shortages at both ends of the skill spectrum, from high-tech positions to agriculture, hospitality, and service jobs.
129,000
Number of immigrant workers in the labor forceEducational Attainment by Nativity, Age 25+
| Education Level | Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|---|
| Less Than High School | 21.1% | 9.9% |
| High School & Some College | 43.6% | 62.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 21.6% | 16.2% |
| Graduate Degree | 13.7% | 11.2% |
Share of College-Educated Workers Employed in Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree
| Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|
| 37.8% | 30.7% |
TOP INDUSTRIES WITH HIGHEST SHARE OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS
Immigrant share of population: 4.5%
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields are some of the most in-demand jobs in the U.S. economy. These jobs are also expected to experience some of the highest growth rates in the next decade, second only to healthcare jobs. While immigrants already play a huge part in maintaining the United States’ role as a leading innovator, immigrants will also be instrumental in helping high-tech industries meet their full potential as their needs for high-skilled STEM workers rapidly increases in the future.
Housing
Immigrant families have long played an important role in helping to build housing wealth in the United States. In recent decades, the more than 40 million immigrants in the U.S. collectively increased U.S. housing wealth by trillions of dollars. Much of this was possible because immigrants moved into neighborhoods once in decline, thus helping to revitalize communities and make neighborhoods more attractive to U.S.-born residents.
41,300
Immigrant homeowners5.4%
Share of recent homebuyers who were foreign-born$11.8B
Housing wealth held by immigrant households$510.4M
Amount paid by immigrant-led households in rentInternational Students
International students in the United States contribute tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year and support a significant number of U.S. jobs through their tuition payments and day-to-day spending. Research has also found that increases in the number of international students at American universities boost innovation and patent creation.
10,050
Students at Kentucky colleges and universities who are international students$310.5M
Economic contribution of international students1,821
Jobs supported by international studentsNaturalization & Voting Power
As more immigrants naturalize and become eligible to vote, they continue to gain political power. The number of immigrant voters is only projected to rise in the next decade, and in some states foreign-born voters are already capable of deciding elections.
82,600
Number of immigrants who are eligible to vote89,200
Number of immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens30,800
Number of immigrants who are eligible for naturalizationUndocumented Immigrants
The presence of a significant number of undocumented immigrants in the United States, most of whom have lived in the country for more than five years, poses many legal and political challenges. But while politicians continue to debate what to do about illegal immigration, millions of undocumented immigrants are working across the country, contributing billions of dollars to the U.S. economy.
52,900
Number of undocumented immigrants$1.1B
Undocumented household income$883.1M
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $95.7M |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $137.4M |
| Total Taxes Paid | $233.1M |
34,200
Number of U.S. citizens living with at least one undocumented family member20,700
Number of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented family member15,800
Number of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented parentTHE DACA-ELIGIBLE POPULATION
DACA-eligible people contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. Removing the protections afforded to DACA recipients would likely upset local economies, communities, and schools, hurting employers and businesses that depend on these young immigrants as workers and customers.
2,300
Number of active DACA recipients3,306
Number of people with DACA grantedRefugees
Refugees living in the United States make tremendous contributions to our economy as earners, taxpayers, and consumers. Rather than a drain on communities, refugees, with their high employment rate and entrepreneurial spirit, actually sustain and strengthen their new hometowns.
20,200
Number of likely refugees2,905
Number of refugees resettled in the last fiscal year60.4%
Share of refugees who are naturalized U.S. citizens99.4%
Employment rate of likely refugees$609.3M
Refugee household income$467.4M
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $62.1M |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $79.8M |
| Total Taxes Paid | $141.9M |
Top Countries of Origin for Refugees Resettled in the last Fiscal Year
Temporary Protected Status Holders
Recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have made enormous contributions to various industries and paid a significant amount in federal, state, and local taxes in the United States. Forcing them to leave the country not only risks putting these individuals in danger, but also threatens to significantly disrupt local economies.
2,230
Number of TPS holders