People Move for Jobs and Stay for Growth: What New Research Means for Northern Kentucky Employers
Northern Kentucky faces a challenge common to both Kentucky and Ohio: We retain a high percentage of homegrown talent but attract fewer college-educated workers from other states than the national average. As employers compete for talent, understanding these migration patterns can help us sharpen our recruiting strategy.
Greater Cincinnati attracts a larger share of college-educated workers from outside the region than either Kentucky or Ohio overall, making it less dependent on homegrown talent. As seen in the chart below from a 2026 report by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work, about 20% of our college-educated workers came here for a job. However, this trails the national average of 24% of workers who relocated to another state for employment. That four-point difference represents a significant opportunity. If regional employers can more effectively market career opportunities and long-term advancement, we may be able to capture a larger share of graduates willing to relocate.
People Move for Jobs but Stay for Career Growth
The report's most important finding is that great jobs attract talent, but career advancement retains talent. More than half of workers under 50 who moved to another state cited career opportunities as the reason they relocated. Once they arrive, continued growth opportunities become the deciding factor in whether they stay.
The report noted differences by fields of study. Students who study engineering and architecture, math and computer-related sciences, and health-related fields are the most likely to move to another state after graduation. Because graduates in engineering, computer science, and health-related fields are among the most geographically mobile, these talent pools represent particularly strong opportunities for regional recruitment efforts. This reinforces NKY Works' emphasis on promoting careers in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, engineering technologies, and computer technologies. \
Another important finding is the importance of public post-secondary institutions. About two-thirds (66%) of graduates from public universities stay in the state, compared to only 2 in 5 (40%) of graduates from private institutions. This finding reinforces the importance of maintaining a strong recruiting presence at Kentucky's public universities, where graduates are more likely to build careers within the state.
Read the full report here.
Implications for our Talent Attraction Initiative
The findings reinforce NKY Works' current strategy. By promoting Northern Kentucky's career opportunities at colleges throughout the region and connecting employers with emerging talent, we can increase awareness of the advantages of building a career here. Next month, Talent Acquisition Specialist Grace Riley will begin visiting universities in a 200-mile radius to help employers connect with students seeking early-career opportunities as well as internships and cooperative positions. Her first stops will include the University of Louisville and Eastern Kentucky University, along with the University of Cincinnati and the University of Dayton.
How Your Company Can Get Involved
Are you looking for young talent to fill internships and entry-level positions over the next 4-9 months? Let Grace know about your specific recruiting needs. She can discuss how NKY Works can help you fill your positions with emerging talent with strong long-term retention potential. Reach her at Grace.Riley@NKADD.org or 859.242.7885.