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Ohio rolls out updated list of in-demand jobs

Mark Williams
The Columbus Dispatch
Demand for registered nurses still puts the profession at the top of a revamped list of jobs expected to be needed the most in Ohio in the coming years.

Ohio has updated its list of jobs expected to be most in demand in the years ahead. While registered nurses still lead the list, the top jobs overall now include positions such as software developer and financial manager.

Demand for registered nurses still puts the profession at the top of a revamped list of jobs expected to be needed the most in Ohio in the coming years.

Beyond that, though, the new list of the top jobs rolled out this week by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation reflects a state economy that is changing.

For example, trailing registered nurses are workers who move freight or stock from one place to the next, positions that reflect Ohio’s growing distribution economy.

No. 4 on the list are software developers, and No. 6 are market research analysts and marketing specialists. At No. 10, financial managers.

Medicine dominates the list, reflecting the need for medical secretaries, medical assistants, and licensed practical and vocational nurses.

Truck drivers have fallen off the list since last year, along with customer service representatives.

The list is meant to serve as a foundation to identify the kinds of workers businesses will need in the years ahead, state officials said at a Wednesday meeting about the list.

Its information will allow education and training programs to be aligned with those needs while also providing a guide for students and job seekers pursuing careers that provide good wages, according to the state.

“These occupations are promising. They will be here tomorrow. They won’t lose relevancy over time,” Kimberly Hall, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, said during the meeting.

For a job to be considered in demand, it must pay a sustainable wage and provide a promising future based on the projected number of openings and growth. The sustainable wage currently is $14.10 per hour, or about 80% of the state’s median wage.

The list is based on surveys of what Ohio businesses say they need.

The updated list is interactive: Users can learn more about the occupation by clicking on a box, including median salary, expected growth in demand and the number of openings.

Lt. Gov Jon Husted said the list is important to close what many employers see as a gap between the skills workers have and those employers say they need, while improving collaboration between businesses and educators.

“Helping people navigate this is so important,” he said of the information on the website. “Come here to get a better job.”

Top in-demand jobs for Ohio

1. Registered nurses

2. Laborer/freight/stock/material movers

3. Medical secretaries

4. Software developers, applications

5. Medical assistants

6. Market research analysts, marketing specialists

7. Construction laborers

8. Licensed practical and vocational nurses

9. Financial managers

10. General and operational managers

Source: Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation

mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams