Developing Tomorrow’s Talent
The Columbus Region’s workforce is highly educated, diverse, and young, with one of the nation’s highest concentrations of millennials.
Young and Hungry Workforce
The Columbus Region’s explosive growth continues to yield the top talent businesses need to succeed.
Top 10
large metro in the U.S. for concentration of young professionals
22,000
annual college graduates
1.2 million
total workforce
Benefits of the Columbus Region
Home to over 2.3 million people, the high quality of life and innovative companies in the Columbus Region attract bright young minds from around the world. The low cost of living offers an affordable market for employers in search of top talent as well as employees craving a high quality of life at a lower expense.
The Columbus Region’s growth over the last decade has been rapid—and shows no signs of stopping. The Columbus metro alone experienced a population growth rate of more than 12% between 2010 and 2020 (substantially higher than the 2.1% average for the rest of the Midwest). The Region is expected to expand to 3 million people by 2050.
The Region is ranked Top 10 large metro in the U.S. for the concentration of young professionals. And with leading universities and top-ranked liberal arts colleges, we boast one of the highest concentrations of college students in the U.S.
Workforce Data by Industry
Strong talent bases support the Region’s key industries.
The Columbus Region is home to a large existing talent pool of automotive workers in relevant occupations and offers a steady pipeline of young talent with area institutions offering over 50 manufacturing-related training programs that collectively produce 600+ graduates annually.
The Columbus Region’s dense concentration of retail, fashion and apparel headquarters has drawn the nation’s top talent to the Region, resulting in more than 90,000 existing workers in transportation and logistics occupations. Because of the Region’s optimal location for warehouse and distribution operations, specialized programs in logistics and supply chain management from high school to master’s degree levels provide companies talent with the skills they need.
Finance and fintech organizations make up a significant portion of the Columbus Region’s employer base. A dynamic startup landscape with plentiful venture capital investment appetite means that the finance and fintech companies of tomorrow are getting their start here.
The Columbus market offers high concentrations and competitive wages for growing and in-demand food production occupations, allowing employers access to high-quality talent at a lower cost than more expensive markets.
The insurance industry in the Columbus Region is comprised of stable industry giants and new industry disruptors. Together, they are changing the national insurance landscape. Nearly 40 academic and vocational institutions in the Region offer degrees that feed the Region’s insurance talent pipeline.
In the last five years, the Columbus Region has granted over 8,700 degrees in biology, biomedical science, chemistry, and pharmacy. The Ohio State University ranks in the top 10 nationally in doctorate of biological and biomedical science completions—all contributing to a highly educated and prepared talent pool.
The Columbus Region’s newest industry is already poised for success as vocational and higher education institutions such as Columbus State Community College and The Ohio State University have implemented programs to prepare the steady supply of talent that Intel’s $20-billion-chip-manufacturing factories will require.
Contact
Our team is on hand to help your business find its place in the Columbus Region. Together we’ll secure your growth and future in our thriving ecosystem.