LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky has emerged as one of the nation's most immigrant workforce-dependent states, ranking 6th in the United States and second among Southern states, according to a new analysis by The Mendoza Law Firm.

The study found that 80.1% of Kentucky's foreign-born residents are of working age between 18 and 64, underscoring the significant role immigrants play in supporting the state's labor force as employers across multiple industries continue to face workforce shortages. Kentucky earned an Immigrant Worker Dependency Score of 83.0 out of 100, trailing only North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and neighboring Tennessee.

Kentucky's immigrant population is relatively young, with a median age of 40.5—nearly four years younger than the national immigrant median age of 44.2. Researchers say a younger workforce typically translates into a longer period of economic participation and labor force contribution, providing the state a potential competitive advantage.

Within the Appalachian region, Kentucky stands out, outperforming Virginia by 24 positions and West Virginia by 25 positions in immigrant workforce readiness. The state also compares favorably to traditional gateway states like Texas, which ranked 28th nationally, and Illinois, ranked 43rd nationally. Illinois' immigrant population has a median age of 48.1, making it nearly eight years older than Kentucky's.

The Commonwealth continues to experience labor shortages in manufacturing, healthcare, construction, agriculture and logistics. A higher percentage of working-age immigrants can help employers fill critical positions while supporting long-term economic growth, tax revenues and consumer spending. The researchers developed their rankings using data from the Migration Policy Institute, measuring both the concentration of foreign-born residents between ages 18 and 64 and median age to create an overall dependency score.

The findings suggest Kentucky's economy may be more dependent on immigrant labor than many residents realize. As demographic trends continue to reshape the nation's workforce, the Commonwealth's comparatively young immigrant population could provide an economic advantage in addressing persistent labor shortages and sustaining growth.