The region serves as a health care, retail, and cultural center for both Central and Eastern Kentucky. Whether you’re seeking employment or looking to start a business, Lexington is among the top cities in the nation for entrepreneurs. Lexington was recently named among the Top 25 High-Tech Hotspots by The Atlantic Cities (#17), and among the Best Mid-Sized Cities for Jobs by Forbes (#7).

Lexington and the surrounding area’s robust economy are due in large part to its diversification of employment opportunities. No single employment sector comprises more than 21-percent of the labor force in the metro area.  Employment is dispersed among government, education and healthcare, retail trade, manufacturing, professional and business services, and construction.  As a result of these diverse opportunities, Lexington’s unemployment rate is typically lower than the rest of the state and nation.

The University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Fayette County Public Schools, and Eastern Kentucky University are among the major employers within the Lexington MSA. Citizens also enjoy strong employment opportunities in equine related businesses, health care, retail and services. Principal manufactured products include automobiles, automobile parts, peanut butter, cutting tools, heating and air conditioning equipment, paper cups and products, software, sunroofs, and military equipment.

Because of its relatively low utility costs, Lexington has remained a very affordable place to do business. This was certainly a contributing factor when the city was named to KPMG’s list of the cities with the lowest international business costs in the U.S. and Canada.

With an abundance of colleges and universities in the area, it’s not surprising that Lexington has one of the “Most Educated Workforces” in America. According to U.S. Census data, Lexington ranks twelfth in the country in number of people with a bachelor’s degree, and sixth in the nation in total number of people who have attained an advanced degree.