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Want to know what Ohio employers need? Ask the employers.
A novel idea, maybe, but doing so helped the Ohio Manufacturers' Association complete its Good Jobs Challenge grant eight months ahead of schedule, while blowing past every performance goal set.
In 2022, the U.S. Economic Development Administration supported the $23.4 million initiative with the largest workforce investment in the association's history. The idea was to scale up WorkAdvance, which lets employers take the lead in building the short-term job-skills, technical instruction and other supports that get them the workers they need.
Since 2022, there have been 2,843 credentials earned, with 4,378 Ohioans either landing a quality manufacturing job or increasing wages. Among those placed into new roles, the average starting wage was $22.63 an hour, compared to an initial goal of 3,600 placements at $17.60 an hour.
Let employers be part of the conversation. Give people the tools and support they need to be the workers those businesses need. And do it by reaching as much of Ohio as possible. The OMA put that formula to excellent use for 4,378 Buckeye State residents and their employers.
Well done.