Tressel talks to Olentangy Schools students about current workforce

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel was in Lewis Center Thursday night talking to Olentangy Schools students, parents and staff about the current workforce landscape in Ohio.

Central Ohio is growing every year, as major companies move to the area and create local job opportunities.

“We’re blessed here in Ohio. Central Ohio, in particular," Tressel said. "The job growth in central Ohio today. But yet, if you look 5 to 8 years down the road, it's going to be extraordinary."

But Tressel stressed the need for people here to be ready and trained for those careers.

Awareness begins as early as high school. At Olentangy, there is the BridgED program, which connects students with local companies in the career fields they are interested in.

“A lot of the larger companies are choosing this area to build and to make this their corporate headquarters space," said Molly Preston, the assistant director of strategic partnerships at Olentangy Schools. "And we just want to make sure that our students are ready to fill that, you know, to fill what's happening and what's coming."

Some of the fastest growing careers in Ohio are IT, manufacturing and health care.

Members of OhioHealth’s Workforce Development and Academic Partnerships team say they are constantly hiring. There are opportunities for people with all levels of education at OhioHealth.

“I think a lot of the health care careers that we look for now is a lot of the professional skills. We see less and less people being able to have face to face conversations because that's not the way of the world now,” said Mindy Sanford, the senior advisor of workforce development and academic partnerships at OhioHealth.

Tressel acknowledged that the current job landscape is tough for some new college graduates right now. But in Ohio, he said there are a lot of opportunities. People just need to be willing to adapt to the ever-changing workforce.

“Information, techniques, technology, that's all going to change," Tressel said. "But it's not going to eliminate jobs. It's going to just change what jobs are out there and available."

Preston said she and the BridgED instructors are aware of the difficult job market. She said they are talking with students early about adaptability in careers.

“It’s just about awareness and flexibility of how still to be able to do what you're passionate about and what you love, but maybe just in a different way,” Preston said.

With the vast array of career opportunities in central Ohio, Olentangy Schools recognized that an early start can help students in their future job hunts.