Who are KY’s immigrants? Data shows they hold these jobs critical to the economy
Though they make up just less than 5% of Kentucky’s overall population, immigrants are overrepresented when it comes to the state’s small business owners, construction workers, doctors and software developers.
That was one takeaway from state Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, who spoke to members of the Lexington mayor’s International Affairs Advisory Commission during its meeting Friday at Marksbury Family Branch Library.
Kulkarni has been practicing law as an immigration attorney for 15 years and was elected to the Kentucky House in 2019, representing a district in Louisville’s West End. Most recently, she founded the New Americans Initiative to help integrate and boost civic engagement among Kentucky’s immigrant population.
During her talk, Kulkarni highlighted the many barriers immigrants face in Kentucky. That includes navigating a complex immigration system that hasn’t been updated in 40 years, unrecognized foreign credentials, language barriers and limited access to education and job opportunities.
In spite of that, immigrants contribute significantly to the state, both in the form of taxes they pay and what they put into Kentucky’s economy, Kulkarni noted.
“Overall, immigrants generate $14 billion a year in total economic input for Kentucky,” Kulkarni told the advisory group. “Think about what a huge economic loss it would be to Kentucky if we got rid of immigrants and refugees.”
What does the data show about immigrants in Kentucky?
There are about 202,900 immigrants living in Kentucky, according to figures from the New Americans Initiative.
Together they represent 5% of the state’s workforce, and according to Kulkarni, and are overrepresented in several areas, including sectors critical to Kentucky’s economy. These include:
- 7% of all business owners in the state
- 13% of “main street” business owners
- 12% of the construction workforce
- 16% of doctors in a state with a sick and aging population
- 24% of software developers
In Kentucky, immigrants pay $1.5 billion in federal, state and local taxes each year. Their collective spending power is $4.5 billion, Kulkarni said.
When it comes to refugees and asylees, Kulkarni cited a 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which found a positive net impact of $123.8 billion over a 15-year period.
“This means that refugees and asylees contributed more revenue than they cost in expenditures to the government,” the report reads. “The net fiscal benefit to the federal government was estimated at $31.5 billion, and the net fiscal benefit to state and local governments was estimated at $92.3 billion.”
How federal immigration enforcement changes are affecting Kentucky
Kulkarni also highlighted how recent changes in federal immigration enforcement implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration are being felt across Kentucky.
Shortly after taking office this year, Trump withdrew the “sensitive places” doctrine, a Biden-era policy that limited immigration enforcement activities at schools, hospitals, churches and other places deemed essential.
The administration has also been pursuing 287(g) agreements under a federal program that allows state and local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the federal government for immigration enforcement.
Several Kentucky law enforcement agencies and jails have signed on to the initiative. As of Oct. 21, the list of Kentucky counties includes Bracken, Bullitt, Butler, Clinton, Daviess, Grayson, Kenton, Lyon, Marshall, Oldham, Scott and Union. Additionally, the Heritage Creek Police Department in Jefferson County has also signed a 287(g) agreement, according to the New Americans Initiative.
Speaking to the Herald-Leader Friday, Kulkarni encouraged immigrants to seek out legal representation and to have access to an attorney should they need one.
The Herald-Leader has also compiled a guide for handling encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
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