New research from New American Economy shows that immigrant households in Northern Kentucky earned nearly $430 million and paid over $116 million in taxes in 2017. The report was produced in partnership with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Duke Energy and Gateway Community and Technical College. The report illustrates the impact immigrants have on Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.

The report shows the outsize impact immigrants have on Northern Kentucky’s economy and workforce. While they make up just 3.5 percent of the population, foreign-born residents accounted for 4.2 percent of the business owners in the county in 2017. One-third of foreign-born residents aged 25 or older in the region held a bachelor’s degree or higher, and one-in-seven held an advanced degree in 2017. Immigrants also play a major role in key industries, representing 7.7 percent of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workers, 7 percent of manufacturing workers, and 6.4 percent of hospitality workers. The report also shows how immigrants helped strengthen the local job market by helping to preserve or create 612 manufacturing jobs that would have either disappeared or moved elsewhere.

The report was released as the Northern Kentucky region brings together leaders across sectors to develop a strategic plan to ensure the region welcomes and harnesses the potential of all residents. Northern Kentucky was one of 14 communities selected nationally for the 2019 Gateways for Growth award to receive research from NAE and technical assistance from NAE and Welcoming America to support this work.

Read the full research brief here.

read the full press release here.