More than 600,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Lexington metro area’s economy. But have you ever wondered about the Horse Capital of the World’s heaviest hitters?

Consider this Lexington Business 101 — your guide to our region’s key industries and nine major employers.

Note: When we say the Lexington metro area, that refers to Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Montgomery, Scott, and Woodford counties.

The key industries

There are six key industries that represent the Lexington metro area’s economy, based on data from Commerce Lexington. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers for the metro area.

Advanced Manufacturing | 25,000+ employees
The Bluegrass Region is home to manufacturing companies such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Lockheed Martin, and Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas Inc. This sector also includes some of the highest wage-payers in the area.

Logistics and Warehouse Operations | 24,000+ employees
Amazon is a major player in this sector, and Kentucky's central location + shipping hubs make it the No. 2 state in the US for air cargo weight.

BioTech and BioPharma/Life Sciences | 22,000+ employees
Thanks to the University of Kentucky's top-ranked life sciences research, Lexington is a growing hub for BioTech and BioPharma. Companies like Active Therapy Systems, BlueCreek Pharmaceuticals, and Hera BioLabs contribute to this sector.

Business and Financial Services | 19,500+ employees
The Lexington metro area serves as a headquarters location for more than 70 business and financial service organizations, including Valvoline, Big Ass Fans, and A&W Restaurants Inc.

AgTech | 5,200+ employees
This industry is supported by local research in equine science and bourbon production + initiatives from the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp. (BADC), a regional public-private partnership.

Food and Beverage Processing | 350+ food and bev facilities (employee number not listed)
The Lexington metro was ranked the No. 8 best in the nation for food manufacturing. Companies like Bluegrass Distillers, Buffalo Trace, Nestle’s Hot Pockets, and Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. contribute to this sector.

With over 13,500 people employed by UK, we decided to dig around and see how much you can make working there. | Photo by Mark Cornelison

The major players

Now that we’ve established the major industries, we bet you’re curious about specific names. Whether you’re job hunting (or just “casually prospecting”), here are nine major employers — all of which employ more than 2,000 workers on average.

University of Kentucky
26,846 employees | Education, Healthcare | Search jobs
Big Blue Nation takes the No. 1 seed on this list thanks to both the university and the hospital. The University was founded in 1865 and is home to 200+ academic programs and 16 degree-granting colleges.

Kentucky State Government
11,210 employees | Government | Search jobs
Jobs within the state government range from administrative work to legal positions and beyond.

Toyota Kentucky
9,700 employees | Manufacturing | Search jobs
In its 39 years in Georgetown, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, better known as TMMK, has produced more than 14 million vehicles. It's also given $163 million to nonprofit partners across the Commonwealth.

Fayette County Public Schools
5,965 employees | Education | Search jobs
The district employs thousands to keep its dozens of elementary, middle, and high schools + preschools and academic programs running smoothly each year.

Baptist Health
3,189 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs
You can’t get down Nicholasville Road without passing the sprawling Baptist Health campus. It set down roots locally in 1954 and has been recognized for its heart and cancer care. It’s also expanding with a new Georgetown facility, which is slated for completion in fall 2026.

Amazon
3,000 employees | Distribution | Search jobs
The online retail giant expanded its footprint in 2021 by opening a second distribution facility. The arrival of this delivery station brought hundreds of new full- and part-time jobs.

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
2,991 employees | Government | Search jobs
Government work doesn't just involve policy making; Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government employs people in departments like public works, Lexington Fire, and Lexington Police.

Veterans Medical Center
2,384 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs
Dedicated to our local veterans and their families, the Veterans Medical Center offers primary care as well as specialized care and social support groups.

Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI)
2,029 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs
Now a member of CommonSpirit Health, CHI Saint Joseph Health is headquartered in Lexington + includes hundreds of hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, and home health agencies across Kentucky.