Preparing Ohio's workforce for the future

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- More than 200 people came together for the 2025 Ohio Chamber of Commerce Workforce Summit, which leaders said addresses the state’s ever-evolving workforce.

“A lot of the jobs that are open now are things that weren't really jobs, people considered to be in Ohio as recently as five or ten years ago,” Ohio Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Government Affairs Justin Barnes said. “That's going to continue to change over the next decade.”

Ohio has become a hub for technology and Barnes said a lot of teamwork is needed to fill these positions.

“I think that there's not any one silver bullet; it's going to take a communal effort,” he said.

According to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, Ohio has the sixth-worst unemployment rate in the country. Barnes said they need to eliminate the barriers Ohioans face when entering the workforce, such as childcare issues.

“It is more expensive to send your kid to childcare than it is to pay your rent on an average basis statewide,” Barnes said. “We know that housing and transportation contribute to those challenges as well.”

Business leaders were connected to the various state resources that can help them with accessibility hurdles plus skill gaps and labor shortages.

“Employers, small and large, can connect with those career centers to make a difference in their workforce,” Apollo Career Center Superintendent Keith Horner said.

He said the need is great for workers who are already trained.

“The biggest challenge we have right now is to work fast enough,” Horner said. “We have to work faster to prepare workers faster.”

The summit also held panels on retaining talent and attracting workers to Ohio.