Louisville is an important industry and commerce center. Louisville has also become a major center for healthcare and medical sciences. Over the years the economy has become more diversified which has provided more high-tech and skilled job opportunities. Jobs are also provided by firm's which manufacture items such as automobiles, chemicals, electrical appliances, machinery, processed foods, farm tools and baked goods. The Greater Louisville area also employs a vast number of federal, state and local workers. In addition, tourism is the region's largest services industry.
The city is home to the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies including Yum! Brands Inc, Kindred Healthcare and Humana. Also, the Ford Motor Co has two plants in the region.
Louisville has low costs of doing business, low taxes and provides various financial incentives. The Greater Louisville Inc., collaborates with new and existing companies to create new jobs and capital investment in the city.
The top private sector employers in Louisville are:
- United States Parcel Service - International air hub
- Humana Inc - Managed care, HMO, PPO, POS
- Norton Healthcare - Healthcare provider
- Jewish Hospital Healthcare - Healthcare facilities
- Ford Motor Co - Automotive manufacturer
- GE Consumer & Industrial - Home appliances, light bulbs
- Kroger Co - Retail grocer
- Baptist Hospital East - Healthcare provider
- Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville - Churches, agencies and schools
- University Hospital - Hospital
- YUM! Brands, Inc - KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, A & W and Long John Silvers
- Kindred Healthcare Inc - Healthcare
- Publishers Printing - Prints trade magazines
- Horseshoe Southern Indiana - Gaming and entertainment resort
- AT&T - Telecommunications
- American Commercial Lines Inc - Transportation services and manufacturing
- JP Morgan Chase & Co - Banking
- Papa John's International Inc - Quick-service restaurants
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield - Health insurance sales/service
- JBS Swift & Co - Pork product manufacturing
The largest employment sectors in Louisville Kentucky are:
- Services
- Wholesale and retail trade
- Manufacturing
- Government
- Transportation, communications and utilities
- Finance, insurance and real estate
Pertinent information regarding Louisville Kentucky: Louisville has been named #1 in Entrepreneur magazine's "Best city for small business growth" list. Louisville was also ranked #15 in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 25 best cities for entrepreneurs" list. In 2008 the cost of living index in the city was 85. The country's average is 100. Regarding the adult population, approximately 21% have achieved a bachelor's degree or higher. The estimated median household income in 2007 was $32,000.
Some of the helpful organizations for Lexington businesses are:
- Greater Louisville Inc
- Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
- The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
louisville.bizjournals.com provides up-to-date information about business and industry in Louisville, Kentucky.