The Southeastern Ohio Workforce
Tap into a pipeline of skilled workers, eager for great local jobs.
The Ohio Southeast Region has a workforce of over 440,000 people.
A look at the workforce in Southeast Ohio’s traded sectors
The graph highlights the top six traded industries in the Southeast Ohio region based on workforce size. Leading the region is Logistics and Distribution, employing 13,626 people, followed by Metal Fabrication with 8,847 workers. Together, these industries represent key drivers of employment and economic growth in the region, showcasing the diverse industrial landscape that powers Southeast Ohio.
Workers in the Ohio Southeast are skilled and ready for good local jobs.
The Ohio Southeast workforce of over 400,000 is commuting long distances at great personal and financial expense for decent jobs—because there is a dearth of well-paying jobs close to home. Employers willing to offer comparable jobs closer to these workers’ homes will find a ready, skilled workforce. In fact, 1 in 4 workers heads out of the region to a metro area for work. According to a study published by Stacker in August, workers in the region also lead the state in “super commutes” (90+ minutes one-way), and they lead the state in workers leaving the house before 6 am.
Companies investing here have the opportunity to be an employer of choice.
The Ohio Southeast region has a small fraction of the competition for workers seen in metro areas – even on a per capita basis. The map below shows the county with the highest number of job openings per capita in the OhioSE region still has less than half of the openings per capita compared to Ohio’s major metros. The map lists the number of unique online job postings per 1,000 people living in each county. In some cases, the number of per capita job openings in the major metros is 10x the OhioSE region. An employer locating in the OhioSE region will experience much less competition for workers.
Below national average wages
Lower average wages (without sacrificing residents’ personal quality of life), create more opportunities for business growth.
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“The OhioSE Talent Program has been instrumental in driving our organization’s growth by optimizing marketing recruiting efforts, developing comprehensive training plans for production employees, and facilitating impactful leadership development initiatives. Their support enabled us to enhance our radio and social media ads, successfully attract first-time candidates to the manufacturing industry, and ensure employees were trained effectively. Additionally, their focus on leadership development helped us nurture the soft skill sets of our leaders, positioning our team for long-term success.”
Michelle Scaggs / Bellisio Foods / Director of Human Resources
Education and Training
Over 83,000 students are enrolled in local colleges and universities, actively building their skills, and prepared to bring fresh energy to your business.