For years, Ohio has faced the challenge of its workforce talent leaving the state. The latest U.S. Census Bureau data paints a promising new picture: Ohio isn’t losing people—it’s attracting them.
Since 2020, Ohio has added more than 100,000 residents while exceeding previous population projections by nearly 135,000 people. Even more important for employers, Ohio's prime working-age population (ages 25 to 54) has grown by more than 80,000 residents, including an increase of more than 150,000 adults ages 25 to 44.
Those trends matter because Ohio's economy continues to expand across critical industries, including advanced aerospace and defense, technology, life sciences, energy, and advanced manufacturing. To support that growth, JobsOhio estimates the state will need more than 540,000 STEM and technically skilled workers over the next decade.
Meeting the Needs of Today’s Workforce
JobsOhio regularly monitors talent nationwide to better understand motivations behind relocation decisions. The picture is clear: skilled professionals are looking for affordable communities, a high quality of life, meaningful career opportunities, shorter commutes, and a place where they can build both a successful career and a fulfilling personal life.
Ohio offers it all.
Designed to support employers with critical hiring needs, the JobsOhio Find Your Ohio talent network directly connects companies with experienced STEM professionals from across the country who are actively interested in relocating or returning to Ohio. The program expands employers' access to qualified candidates—including mid- and senior-level STEM professionals, veterans, and security-cleared talent—while reducing the time and effort required to recruit nationally.
Finding great candidates is one part of the equation; proximity to work is another.
The JobsOhio Relocation Incentive provides eligible employers with financial incentives for hiring qualified out-of-state professionals who relocate to Ohio. Employers submit an application, hire an eligible candidate, and receive incentive funding after the employee successfully relocates and begins work. Companies can receive support for multiple qualified hires, making it easier to build growing teams.
To help employers make the relocation experience a positive one, JobsOhio also developed its Best Practices Guide for Relocating Out-of-State Talent. The guide offers practical recommendations for relocation planning, candidate communication, community integration, and long-term retention, helping new employees and their families feel at home from day one.
JobsOhio also launched a refreshed brand strategy and campaign to sharpen JobsOhio’s message, strengthen its market position, and unify its story across business and talent-attraction efforts. Grounded in research and audience testing, the work reflects a more confident, modern approach and helps ensure JobsOhio and Ohio stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Both campaigns are united under a single platform: YOUR MOVE. The message is designed to prompt action—whether that means growing a business, relocating for a career opportunity, or building a future here.
SNC: Finding the Right Workforce in Ohio
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), a global leader in aerospace and national security, evaluated multiple states before selecting Dayton for its new aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities.
SNC cited Ohio's skilled aerospace workforce, robust aviation supply chain, proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, affordable cost of living, and quality of life as key factors in its decision.
As hiring accelerated, SNC used the JobsOhio Relocation Incentive to recruit experienced professionals from outside the state, ultimately maximizing the program's available support to help build its Ohio workforce.
SNC's success demonstrates how Ohio combines the talent, business climate, and relocation resources companies need to compete for highly skilled workers.
Building the Future Today
The latest Census data confirm what employers are seeing every day: Ohio's workforce is growing and net migration is increasing. Communities across the state are attracting new residents, and it’s not just in the urban centers of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati—82 of Ohio's 88 counties are outperforming previous population projections.
For companies evaluating where to invest and grow, workforce availability remains one of the most important considerations. Ohio's expanding STEM and technical workforce, national talent-attraction programs, and exceptional quality of life are helping employers recruit the people they need today while building the larger workforce they'll need tomorrow.
To learn more about the hundreds of talent resources you’ll find only in Ohio, visit www.jobsohio.com/talent.
