Fresh Profile: Jobs in Ohio

Published on 2008-05-27

The economy of Ohio was heavily dependent on engineering, manufacturing and agriculture throughout the first half of the 20th century. In the 1970s, recession and industrial collapse resulted in the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs in Ohio, particularly in Akron, then center of the rubber and tire industry. Since that time, an increasingly diversified economy has made Ohio an important center for insurance, information technology and healthcare jobs. Ohio also remains a leading state for agriculture, food processing and the manufacturing and production of iron, steel, rubber, plastics and automobiles. According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, Ohio's GDP is the 7th highest in the country.

Ohio's strategic location has played an important role in its employment outlook. As the link between the Northeast and Midwest U.S., with Lake Erie on its northern border and one of the country's largest highway networks crisscrossing its interior, Ohio is uniquely positioned to accommodate the transportation of goods and cargo. Its proximity to major urban areas and manufacturing centers has also stimulated the creation of Ohio shipping jobs; according to the Ohio Department of Transportation, half of North America's population and 70% of its manufacturing capacity are within a day's drive of OH.

Some of the largest single providers of Ohio jobs include Kroger (a supermarket chain based in Cincinnati), Cleveland Clinic Health System, Ohio State University, Catholic Healthcare Partners, and University Hospitals of Cleveland. The Ohio Office of Workforce Development (OOWD) reports that healthcare and information technology are the sectors expected to show the greatest percentage growth for the creation of jobs in Ohio over the next decade. The specific occupations that should provide excellent career opportunities include network system and data communication analysts, home health aides, physician assistants and computer software engineers.

Columbus is the state's capital and most populous city (though the Cleveland and Cincinnati metro areas are larger). State government, healthcare and financial services are principal sectors for jobs in Columbus, Ohio. The city is also a major center for colleges and universities, including Ohio State University, which has the highest enrollment of any university in the U.S. The city's youthful appeal and strong cultural scene have been important catalysts for the creation of Columbus design jobs and arts jobs.

Co-ranked with Pittsburgh by The Economist in 2005 as the most livable city in the U.S., Cleveland's economic image is still defined by its history of manufacturing. However, the OOWD's projection is that the city's manufacturing industry will continue to decline and education and health services will be the fastest growing sectors for Cleveland jobs. The healthcare industry is already a primary employer in Cleveland, and the city's biotechnology research sector is thriving. Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals of Cleveland are primary focal points for Ohio biotechnology jobs.

The Cincinnati metro area is one of the most highly ranked for Fortune 500 companies per capita. Companies such as Western & Southern Financial Group, Fifth Third Bank, and Great American Insurance Company are leading providers of banking, insurance and finance jobs in Cincinnati. According to the OOWD, professional and business services is the fastest-growing sector for Cincinnati jobs.

Other Ohio cities with metro area populations exceeding 100,000 include Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Youngstown, Canton, Springfield and Mansfield.

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