I am pleased to provide this recap of JobsOhio's Q4 2025 Public Board of Directors meeting, held at the Battelle Science and Innovation Campus. This Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland facility is where young women learn engineering, robotics, and advanced manufacturing – skills that will power Ohio's industries of tomorrow. Their motto, "Dream Big," captures the spirit of what Ohio has accomplished this year.
Governor DeWine: Energy, Workforce, and Ohio’s Moment
Governor Mike DeWine joined us to celebrate 2025’s historic wins, reflect on Ohio’s momentum, and lay out the priorities that will sustain it.
ON ENERGY: Governor DeWine thanked the JobsOhio Board for approving the $100 million JobsOhio Energy Opportunity Initiative – a bold commitment to expand energy development and ensure Ohio has the power needed to sustain our economic growth. Over the next five years, JobsOhio will make energy incentives and talent services available for economic development projects across every region of our state.
ON WORKFORCE: Governor DeWine addressed Ohio’s demographic reality directly. With the first decline in the national immigrant population in 60 years and birth rates below replacement levels, Ohio’s future depends on developing every Ohioan. He pointed to initiatives like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Ohio’s continued investment in career-technical education as critical to building the workforce pipeline.
“It's truly Ohio's time in this country. It's the moment for which I think we'll be remembered. Our communities are rising. Innovation is accelerating. And year after year, we're celebrating the biggest wins in our history as a state. Ohio is the place to lead, to live, and to grow.”
Ohio Perceptions vs. Reality
For decades, Ohio faced population outmigration, industrial decline, and persistent misperceptions. But thanks to the grit of Ohioans and forward-thinking policies, the reality on the ground has changed. And the narrative is catching up. Through September 2025, Ohio has added 75,600 jobs, accounting for 10.2% of all the jobs created in the United States in 2025. At the same time, Ohio makes up just 3.5% of the U.S. population, demonstrating that it is a significant job creation engine.
PERCEPTION: Ohio’s population is stagnant and declining.
REALITY: 85 of 88 Ohio counties experienced positive growth in the 25-44 age group since 2020, the first sustained positive net in-migration since the 1980s.
PERCEPTION: Ohio's growth is centered in only one region.
REALITY: Over the past five years, each of the seven JobsOhio Network Partners has achieved record outcomes in projects, jobs, payroll, or capital expenditure. Toledo has the #1 international business environment according to the Financial Times, Dayton ranks #3 in emerging tech in North America, and Ohio makes up six of the top seven micropolitan cities nationwide.
PERCEPTION: Ohio's economy is not dynamic.
REALITY: Ohio ranks #1 in the Great Lakes region for venture capital for five consecutive years, #6 in CNBC's Tech & Innovation Index, #5 for foreign investment and reshoring, and is the 6th most industrially diverse economy in the U.S.
PERCEPTION: The South and West win more and larger manufacturing deals.
REALITY: Ohio is #2 in the nation for manufacturing deals and #2 for mega projects.
PERCEPTION: JobsOhio is not transparent.
REALITY: JobsOhio has ranked in the top 1% of nonprofits for transparency eight consecutive years. We share more information than what is required, but not so much that we surrender the competitive advantage of being private.
PERCEPTION: Boston and North Carolina win all the big biotech deals.
REALITY: Ohio has claimed the top two emerging hubs for biotech research (#1 Columbus, #2 Cincinnati). With seven R1 research institutions and major expansions from Amgen, Charles River, MedPace, and Andelyn Biosciences, Ohio is emerging as a serious contender in this $1.1 trillion global industry.
2025 in Review
This year, national rankings validated what Ohioans already know. Ohio has once again become an economic powerhouse.
● #5 in CNBC’s Top States for Business - Up from #15 just seven years ago
● #1 for Infrastructure for the third consecutive year
● #2 for Cost of Doing Business
● #1 State in the Midwest for Doing Business
● #3 national for both economic development projects and projects per capita - the only state to rank in the Top 5 for both metrics seven years running
● AAA bond rating from all three major credit agencies - One of only 13 states, and the first time in Ohio’s history
We showcased the year’s project wins and strategic initiatives in this video.
Ohio and Ohioans have done what they've always done: rolled up their sleeves, found a way, and rebuilt an economic development ecosystem that is diverse, dynamic, and gaining global attention.
We have challenges ahead, and we will continue to address them head-on – because that's what we do. But 2025 was a historic year, and we believe it's just the beginning. Thank you for your continued partnership. Let’s Grow, Together.
Very respectfully,
J.P. Nauseef
President & Chief Executive Officer
JobsOhio