We stand by our immigrant neighbors and continue to have hope for 2026 and beyond. How can we still have hope? Our partnerships are stronger than ever, and we witnessed communities across the region from different sectors come together in 2025 and the start of 2026 in support of their immigrant neighbors. Why do we still have hope? We understand that immigrants are key contributors to the overall region’s prosperity and root our vision in both sound data, below the noisy rhetoric, and the actions of community members demonstrating this region wants to continue to be a welcoming region that attracts top talent. 

As we start 2026, let’s keep a few things in mind as we think about how and why we continue to welcome people and work to grow the region.  

Population Growth 

As the Center for Research & Data’s dashboard and State of the Region report indicate, population growth is happening again in the region and it is due to immigrants choosing the region as their new home. This is important as we also have an aging population. Immigrants are more likely to be working age, and we need the young talent in key sectors like health care to continue to grow our region and take care of our neighbors.  

On the basis of recent laws, policies, and demographic trends, the Congressional Budget Office projects that the rate of population growth will generally slow over the next 30 years. With current policies, increasing annual number of deaths, and decreasing fertility rates, immigration is an important source of population growth. Without it, the population would begin to shrink by 2030. Currently, the Cincinnati region is bucking that trend, but we must ramp up efforts to attract more talent to the region. 

Workforce Production and Participation 

With an aging population in the region, it is crucial to attract and retain young talent. The Workforce Innovation Center has some great research on the importance of supporting, attracting, and retaining Gen Z talent. Coupled with this strategy is the attraction and retention of immigrant talent.  

Immigrants are more likely to be of working age than the US-born population and are drivers of population growth. Forty-seven percent (47%) of immigrants coming to the Cincinnati region have a bachelor’s degree or higher to meet the talent demands of key industries in the region: advance manufacturing, life sciences, technology, and business & professional services. International students contribute an estimated $270 million and support nearly 2,500 jobs, helping to strengthen our regional economy. 

In addition to meeting crucial talent needs, immigrants are job creators through entrepreneurship. More than 10% of entrepreneurs in the region are immigrants, generating nearly $166 million in annual business income. 

Let’s continue to focus our efforts on leveraging the contributions of immigrants by enhancing key strategies to support immigrant jobseekers, researchers, and entrepreneurs: streamlining licensing and credentialing for internationally trained professionals; increase programming for building foundational skills like English language learning and digital skills; provide support for entrepreneurs, particularly international student founders and Main Street businesses; and supporting employers with immigrant talent attraction and retention efforts, particularly navigating current legal landscape. 

A Point About Public Safety 

A growing volume of research demonstrates that not only do immigrants commit fewer crimes, but they also do not raise crime rates in the U.S. communities where they settle. Despite the rhetoric, immigrants do not commit more crimes in the US.  Also, research at the city level suggests that increases in immigration can be associated with declining homicide rates, with the largest effect on municipalities with long histories of immigration, as well as reductions in property crimes and robbery.  

As we advance our work together in 2026, let us build on these facts and on the partnerships that define Cincinnati’s inclusive economic strength.