New data-driven report sheds light on workforce challenges and opportunities in Northeast Ohio
This morning, Team NEO released the eighth edition of its Aligning Opportunities report, a resource to aid in addressing the demand and supply imbalance in the region’s workforce. The report is produced in partnership with Delta Dental and with the generous support from Deaconess Foundation, Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland & East Central Ohio, PNC, Sherwin-Williams, and Swagelok.
“To cultivate a vibrant economy, we must have an aligned ecosystem that implements shared strategies, and expands job opportunities for all,” stated Team NEO Chief Executive Officer Bill Koehler. “Utilizing the data in this report will help us ‘Bend the Curve’ of our current economic trajectory to achieve bigger gains in GDP, productivity, employment, and population.”
This year’s report, unveiled at an event attended by nearly 300 people at Stillwater Place in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, goes beyond the three in-demand industries (manufacturing, information technology and healthcare) to explore the top 50 jobs by 2030. We also provide a framework that charts a Northeast Ohio student’s career journey toward becoming a computer system analyst: exploring the path from K-12 education to entering the workforce after completing a degree.
Commenting on opportunities to realize the full potential of unique labor pools , Team NEO’s Vice President of Strategy, Research, and Talent Jacob Duritsky remarked, “While we are facing demographic headwinds like an aging population and the need to grow our population of younger workers, it is important for businesses to develop strategies to engage all segments of the labor force to bridge the talent demand/supply gap that will only grow more complex over the next several years.”
Notable findings include:
- As businesses formulate their talent strategies, they must take into account an aging population, the rise of AI, and the continued shift toward remote work and provide creative solutions.
- There are opportunities for majors without clear career pathways, including social sciences and liberal arts, as outlined in the report.
- The top 50 jobs projected by 2030 range from business operations and logistics, to engineering, insurance & sales, and manufacturing & maintenance.
- We share a sample career framework for a computer system analyst to show the many opportunities and pathways for one in-demand career. By 2030, this occupation is projected to grow 5%, with top cities employing these jobs including Cleveland, Independence, Westlake, Beachwood, North Olmsted, Solon, Hudson, Akron, and Brecksville.
Read and download the full 2024 Aligning Opportunities report, FastBreak to Success below.
About Team NEO
Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that ignites economic vibrancy, fosters sustainable growth, and champions equitable prosperity. As a designated JobsOhio Network Partner, we collaborate across all 14 counties in the Northeast Ohio Region to create strategies to attract and retain companies, drive innovation, cultivate a skilled workforce, advance market-ready sites, and promote and engage the region. To learn how Team NEO helps make Northeast Ohio more competitive, visit northeastohioregion.com.