The competition for STEM talent has never been greater. Across the country, employers are racing to hire engineers, technicians, researchers, software developers, data scientists, and other highly trained specialists to support new technologies as both emerging industries and established industries rapidly evolve.
Ohio is meeting that challenge with one of the nation's most comprehensive workforce strategies.
More than 600,000 STEM students and professionals call Ohio home, providing companies with one of the Midwest's deepest technical talent pools. Yet state leaders recognize that tomorrow's economy will require an even larger pipeline. JobsOhio estimates Ohio will need more than 540,000 additional STEM and technically skilled workers over the next decade to meet employer demand, with technician roles accounting for 43% of that need.
To help meet that demand, Ohio is investing in a long-term STEM and technical talent pipeline designed to build a new generation of leaders who can help the world’s most advanced companies grow their operations.
Building a STEM Pipeline That Starts Early
Ohio's STEM workforce is supported by an extensive education ecosystem that includes nationally recognized universities, community colleges, and career technical centers.
Investments in Ohio's STEM ecosystem are producing measurable results. Ohio consistently ranks among the top states nationally for retaining graduates who earn one- and two-year degrees, keeping skilled talent in-state to live, work, and launch careers. As employers continue to expand, this strong retention rate is valuable to companies needing a pipeline of workforce-ready talent. Amgen is partnering with Columbus State Community College to offer an 18-month biomanufacturing apprenticeship, and Resilience is partnering with Butler Tech to offer a tuition-free, 8-week cGMP Fundamentals (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) bootcamp.
The Ohio Discovery Corridor and the state's Innovation Districts are strengthening connections among research universities, healthcare institutions, employers, and entrepreneurs, helping commercialize new technologies while creating career opportunities that encourage graduates to remain in Ohio.
Learning by Doing
Today's employers consistently say classroom knowledge alone isn't enough. They need graduates who can contribute from day one. That's why experiential learning has become a cornerstone of Ohio's workforce strategy.
JobsOhio's Experiential Learning Initiative is a 10-year investment that expands paid internships, apprenticeships, co-ops, and training programs in critical industries. The first phase, expected to benefit 25,000 Ohioans, will include a technician earn-and-learn program designed to meet workforce needs and connect students with high-wage technician jobs.
Similarly, the Biomanufacturing Workforce Initiative is creating a new state-of-the-art training center and a statewide network of community colleges and technical schools to prepare workers for rapidly growing careers in pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology.
Meanwhile, AI Ready Ohio is helping prepare workers for one of the most rapidly evolving sectors of the economy. Following a pilot program that exceeded certification goals by 170%, the initiative now provides free AI education and certifications through partnerships with leading technology companies and Ohio universities, helping thousands of Ohioans develop practical AI skills for tomorrow's workplace.
Where Education and Industry Come Together
Ohio's workforce strategy succeeds because employers are active partners in developing talent.
The new Sherwin-Williams Paint & Coatings Studio at Case Western Reserve University's Sears think[box] illustrates that approach. Developed through a partnership among Case Western Reserve University, Sherwin-Williams, JobsOhio, and Team NEO, the facility provides students with access to professional-grade equipment while exposing them to the same technologies, materials, and processes they will use throughout their careers.
For Sherwin-Williams, the objective is to make graduates "day-one ready" by connecting classroom instruction with hands-on experience. The investment also strengthens a long-term STEM talent pipeline supporting the company's global headquarters and research and development operations in Northeast Ohio, which collectively employ more than 3,900 people.
A Complete Talent Strategy
Ohio's strategy for attracting, developing, and retaining STEM and technical talent extends well beyond education. JobsOhio complements workforce development investments with talent programs that help employers compete nationally for highly skilled workers. Supports include:
Connecting employers with experienced professionals across the country who are ready to relocate or return to the state (Find Your Ohio)
Working alongside employers to develop customized recruitment, marketing, and workforce strategies that help attract, develop, and retain specialized talent (JobsOhio Talent Acquisition Services)
Providing incentives that make it easier for companies to recruit highly skilled out-of-state talent (JobsOhio Relocation Initiative)
Covering employee training costs for IT, skilled trades, leadership skills, and more (JobsOhio Workforce Grant)
Providing companies with research, insights, and best practices that strengthen long-term workforce strategies (JobsOhio Workforce Toolkit)
Together, these efforts create a comprehensive workforce strategy that develops homegrown talent, strengthens career pathways, and attracts and retains experienced professionals from across the country.
Building Ohio's Competitive Advantage
Combined with the state's growing ability to attract experienced STEM professionals from across the country, these investments ensure Ohio is developing talent at every stage, from the classroom to the workplace. Ohio is demonstrating how coordinated investments in education, experiential learning, employer partnerships, research, and talent attraction can create a workforce pipeline built for long-term growth.
From elementary classrooms and university laboratories to advanced manufacturing facilities and cutting-edge research centers, Ohio is creating pathways that prepare people for meaningful careers while giving employers the skilled workforce they need to innovate and grow.
The result is a STEM talent ecosystem that is not only meeting today's workforce needs but building the foundation for a future of continued economic success in Ohio.
For more information about the tools helping develop Ohio’s future STEM talent, visit www.jobsohio.com/workforce.
