Developing Ohio’s Workforce

An educated workforce benefits everyone.

College degrees are great assets not only for individuals, but also for the communities in which they live. While a single college degree benefits an individual, many college degrees strengthen local and state economies. And communities with more-educated workforces tend to be healthier, wealthier and better able to compete in today’s global economy.

There is a high correlation between regional economic growth and higher-education attainment. That’s because workers with bachelor’s degrees tend to be paid more than high school graduates, and so pay more in local taxes, and spend more within their community and state.

The majority of Ohio’s college graduates – approximately 56 percent – remain in Ohio to build careers, raise families and support their communities. One estimate is that each graduate who has a bachelor’s degree will, during the course of his or her lifetime, contribute about $278,000 more to their local economies than their peers who have only high school degrees, and almost $200,000 more than those who have associate degrees.

Higher wages for college-educated workers tends to push wages higher for workers at all education levels and even leads to higher productivity. Regions with active research universities attract high-tech businesses, entrepreneurs, and private and public spending – creating business clusters that attract even more well-educated workers and fuel economic growth.

Developing Ohio's Worforce - Turning the Tide in Tech - Ohio University Students
Turning the Tide in Tech

In an industry generally perceived to be dominated by men, six recent female graduates of Ohio University – Melanie Goggins (Lyft), Ali Mazzotta (Marketo), Aimee Rancer (Pinterest), Sarah Schaaf (Imgur), Courtney Baldasare (RSquared Communications) and Andi Teggart (Facebook) – are bucking the trend by thriving in successful careers in technology. They are working in areas such as regulatory compliance, product management, creative strategy, public relations, online communities, and social media and communications. Reflecting their “Bobcat values,” these young professionals support each other with advice and encouragement and are quick to share tips for success to other women pursuing careers in tech.

Discover their five tips for success
Developing Ohio's Workforce - Shawnee State University and China’s Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) Students
Teacher Ed Partnership with China

In Fall Semester 2018, Shawnee State University and China’s Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) will launch an innovative joint program of bachelor’s degree and master’s degree coursework in teacher education. Participating students will spend three years at GDUFS and two years at Shawnee State, earning a bachelor’s degree from GDUFS and an M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction from Shawnee State. The 3 + 1 + 1 program allows students to earn degrees in an accelerated model while enhancing cultural exchange and international cooperation.

Read more about this unique partnership
Developing Ohio's Workforce - Emelia Sherin, Kent State University Student
Discovering Purpose

Emelia Sherin, a sophomore public relations major at Kent State, believes everyone has a purpose. Hers became evident in an extraordinary way. Motivated by news about Ohio’s opioid crisis, including in her home town, Emelia took action. She interviewed 50 people affected by addiction, then she and a classmate turned those stories into a play. It’s a play about two addicts undergoing recovery – one successfully and the other struggling. The reaction from outside Emilia’s world was astonishing.

Watch this video to learn Emelia’s purpose
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