COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio recently launched a comprehensive statewide strategy to secure its place as a modern manufacturing powerhouse and meet the rapidly growing workforce needs.

The Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint lays out a unified vision for expanding Ohio’s manufacturing talent pipeline, ensuring that Ohioans have the skills to succeed in high-demand careers while strengthening the competitiveness of manufacturers in every region.

“Ohio’s manufacturers are a crucial part of our state’s economy, contributing 17.5% of our GDP and employing more than 680,000 Ohioans,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “With historic investments in the development of the products of tomorrow – like semiconductors and electric vehicles – to our commitment to sectors like aerospace, bioscience and more, the future is being built here in Ohio. Now we must make sure our workforce is ready to meet the moment. This blueprint helps ensure just that.”

The blueprint focuses on five strategic pillars to transform the state’s workforce at scale:

  • Connect workforce systems and priorities to align state, regional and industry strategies for maximum impact.
  • Grow career awareness and interest to expand outreach to students and job seekers to highlight high-paying careers.
  • Broaden the talent pool to increase opportunities for veterans, women, justice-involved individuals and other untapped groups.
  • Align and scale education and training to build seamless, industry-aligned pathways from classroom to career.
  • Expand earn-and-learn models to increase apprenticeships and other paid pathways into manufacturing.

“Under the leadership of Gov. DeWine, we have an unprecedented number of manufacturing job opportunities headed our way in Ohio,” Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel said. “To meet the demand, it’s important that our state’s leaders in education, workforce and industry are all working together to align training, expand opportunities and build awareness around the careers the manufacturing industry has in Ohio.”

The blueprint will be executed through the Ohio Manufacturing Talent Partnership, a statewide public-private collaboration convened by the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and supported by the DeWine-Tressel administration.

“Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint reflects the voice of industry. It is designed to expand our workforce, strengthen training systems and create clear, industry-informed career pathways,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “With the DeWine-Tressel administration’s leadership and strong public-private partnerships, Ohio is positioning itself as the national model for manufacturing workforce development.”