Medical field dominates northwest Ohio Top Jobs List

On Monday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted introduced the newest version of Ohio's Top Jobs List, an online tool meant to reflect the current workforce needs of Ohio businesses and communities. Statewide, the top five jobs ranked by their predicted growth over the next year are home health aides, personal and home care aides, registered nurses, software developers and laborers. The highest number of anticipated available positions are in the laborers and freight, stock and material movers category. Out of the top 10 jobs on the statewide list, registered nurses, software developers and farmers had the highest median salaries. The top two jobs on the growth list, home health aides and personal aides, had the lowest median salaries, at $23,000. In northwest Ohio specifically, the top jobs are slightly different. The top five by growth still includes home health aides, personal care aides and registered nurses, but also includes medical assistants and multiple machine tool setters and operators. The highest salary out of the region's top 10 jobs by growth is that of a registered nurse, with a $65,000 median salary. RNs also make up one of the top three categories with the most job openings, along with laborers and industrial truck and tractor operators. As stated in a release from DeWine's office, a major factor in the creation of the Top Jobs List is business feedback. Ohio companies fill out a survey to contribute to the list's formation. This year, the business response rate increased by 13%, the release states. Both in-demand and critical jobs are included on the list. An "in-demand job" is any position that pays at least 80% of Ohio's median wage, which is $14.90 per hour, and has an annual growth in available jobs greater than 20 — or a number of annual job openings greater than 620. A critical job is more health-focused — DeWine introduced the concept last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. These jobs aim to support the general wellbeing of Ohioans, the release states, and are identified by experts and stakeholders in eight career clusters: children and community health, early childhood education, first responders, lead abatement and construction, mental and behavioral health, nurses, physicians and wellness research and technology. Using predictive data from state labor statistics, electronic job posting trends and business responses to the in-demand jobs survey, the Top Jobs List helps direct 85% of federal job training funds from OhioMeansJobs centers to the industries and regions where the money is most needed, the release states. Ohio has 88 centers across the state to help job seekers find success, from connecting people to training to writing a resume. "The Top Jobs and Critical Jobs lists are among the many resources available to Ohioans looking to get back into the workforce, further their career, or even change careers," said Matt Damschroder, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, in the release. "We encourage individuals to go to OhioMeansJobs.com or their local OhioMeansJobs center where they can explore career options, get training and resume-building help, and apply for jobs." The full list of Top Jobs and the In-Demand Jobs List are both available at TopJobs.Ohio.gov