Over the past five years, 78% of the Cincinnati region’s growth is due to international migration. Nationally, the City of Cincinnati has seen some of the highest changes in the foreign-born share of the working age population over the past decade. These trends are crucial for our regional growth and prosperity for several reasons.

As retirments increasingly reduce our workforce, we must replenish that talent and continue to create more jobs. Also, if we were to lose population- as is predicted in 74 of the 88 Ohio counties by 20250- then we would see an erosion of our economic power. Currently, the Cincinnati region is bucking this trend of population decline, largely due to international migration, and we must continue to do so.

A key strategy for regional growth and development must include the attraction and retention of immigrant and international talent to the region. Data time and time again demonstrate the importance and success of this strategy. A recent study by Brookings, for example, examined the relationship between immigration and regional economic performance over the past decade. It demonstrated how “economic growth was stronger in regions with rising foreign-born shares”. Additionally, “metro areas with larger increases in the foreign-born share of their working-age population saw stronger growth in gross metropolitan product (GMP) and employment between 2014 and 2024, as well as in key prosperity metrics such as productivity and wage growth”.

Two additional points from this report are relevant: 1.) higher rates of employment for foreign-born workers are not associated with lower rates of employment for US-born workers; 2.) improving economic outcomes for foreign-bron workers did not diminish economic outcomes for US-born workers. In short, we all benefit from better labor markets, enhanced productivity, and stronger economic growth.

With the population growth we see many benefits: a stronger workforce pool, greater consumer spending, stronger tax base for public investment, and stronger competitveness in legacy and new industries through innovation and investment.

While we are growing the population and increasing production, this growth lags national averages and is at lower rates than some of our peer cities. As we look to strategies for growth, development, and innovation that leverage our many assets, we must look to proven strategies that work. Attracting and retaining immigrant and international talent is one such proven strategy that must be increasingly invested in the region.

Growth and Resilience

Looking ahead, regional resilience will depend on how we respond to shifting demographics, climate pressures, and economic transformation. Cincinnati has strong assets to build upon, but continued progress is not guaranteed.

Immigrants play a critical role in strengthening the overall resilience capacity of a region: the economic, socio-demographic, and community connectivity aspects of resilience. Additionally, attracting global talent and investing in the success of immigrant residents supports population renewal and helps meet workforce demands in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, automation, and technology. Immigrants already comprise more than 12% of the STEM workforce, and international students are a major pipeline for high-skilled talent. Nationally, 43% of all doctorate-level scientists and engineers in the United States are foreign-born.

Cincinnati is one of only two Ohio cities that ranked in the top 100 of The Geograpjhy of Prosperity resilience index which measures a region’s ability to endure, adapt, and thrive. The index focuses on five metrics: population renewal, climate resilience, automation & AI readiness, social cohesion, and government and foresight. Cincinnati ranked #77 while Columbus came in at #46.

Cincinnati ranked high for its work around climate reslience, but its score was pulled down because of population renewal. Yes, we are again seeing population growth but need to increase this growth at a higher rate. One key strategy to do that is with attraction of immigrant and international talent.

Ultimately, the data point us in a clear direction: if we want a region that not only grows, but endures and thrives, we must be intentional in our efforts to leverage the assets and trends in our region. Attracting immigrant and international talent is not just an economic strategy—it is a commitment to building a region where people have the agency to contribute and the sense of belonging to stay. When individuals are able to put down roots, access opportunity, and see themselves reflected in the future of this community, the entire region becomes more dynamic, innovative, and resilient.