Unlike thriving construction hubs like Miami, Houston, or Los Angeles, Louisville stands out nationally due to its relatively low reliance on immigrant labor.
A new analysis from Construction Coverage, which evaluated U.S. Census Bureau statistics, shows the Louisville/Jefferson County metro employs 5,301 foreign-born construction workers, or 13.9% of the local industry workforce. Among large U.S. metros, that’s the 11th smallest share.
The findings come at a time when long-standing labor shortages across the country are being confronted by a record-breaking construction boom.
Over one in four construction workers nationwide are foreign-born; this percentage has been steadily increasing for over ten years, reaching 26%. In several big metros, immigrants account up more than 50% of all construction workers.
That gulf in labor composition places Louisville on the opposite end of the national spectrum.
A national industry built on immigrant labor
Construction Coverage’s research emphasizes the rising dependency many cities have on foreign-born workers—especially in trades where shortages are acute. Painters, roofers, and drywall installers all employ more than half of the country’s workforce from immigrants. Laborers, flooring installers and tile specialists also show greater concentrations.
In cities with sizable immigrant populations or established labor pipelines, these workforce patterns have supported construction booms. However, the research cautions that as federal immigration enforcement activities step up, those same localities may see delays, cost increases or a reduction in workers.
Louisville’s position in the rankings
While many major metros now rely heavily on foreign-born labor, Louisville remains far less dependent:
- Foreign-born construction workers in Louisville: 5,301
- Share of local construction workforce: 13.9%
- Ranking among large metros: 11th lowest
- Comparison: Cities like Miami (66.2%), Los Angeles (53.7%), and Houston (51.4%) sit at the top of the list.
Louisville’s lower reliance may offer some insulation from potential shocks linked to immigration enforcement. But it also reflects a tighter local labor pool—especially given the scale of development activity underway across the region.
The full Construction Coverage analysis includes data for more than 260 metros and all 50 states, with detailed breakdowns of employment, foreign-born workforce concentration and historical trends.
This article appears in Dec. 1-31, 2025.