UofL study: Auto industry driving Ky. economy

A study by the UofL Urban Studies Institute has found more than 5 percent of the jobs in the state of Kentucky are tied to the auto manufacturing industry. Kentucky has four large assembly plants including two Ford Motor Co. operations in Louisville. According to the study, the four assembly plants along with spinoff auto parts factories account for 136,500 jobs and $6 billion in payroll. June 11, 2015

The UofL study looked at the economic impact of auto manufacturing on 13 southeastern states, including Kentucky, where assembly and parts facilities have flourished.  The report concludes that “on balance, Kentucky seems to have been the best state at leveraging its assets to create and maintain competitive advantage in the automotive industry over the last couple decades.”

The study was sponsored by Kentucky’s Cabinet for Economic Development and the Kentucky Automotive Industry Association.

“They wanted an authoritative and accurate assessment of the kind of contribution the auto industry makes to Kentucky” said Janet Kelly, executive director of the Urban Studies Institute (USI).  “And they knew USI’s reputation for doing good work.”

The study of the auto industry’s impact on Kentucky is the latest from UofL’s Urban Studies Institute.