Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel has officially launched efforts to develop Ohio’s Workforce Playbook, beginning with a roundtable discussion at Cleveland State University (CSU). The meeting brought together business leaders, educators, and community representatives from northeast Ohio to discuss the region’s workforce strengths and needs.
“Governor DeWine has tasked me with getting out into our communities across the state and having these kinds of conversations with the local leaders who know their region best,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “We know that different parts of our state are great at different things and have unique workforce needs. So, gathering insights from local business and education leaders is a key first step in the development of Ohio’s Workforce Playbook.”
The initiative follows Governor Mike DeWine’s announcement during his State of the State Address earlier this month, where he appointed Lt. Governor Tressel to lead the administration’s effort to create Ohio’s Workforce Playbook.
Ohio has seen significant economic growth, adding more than 81,000 private sector jobs in the past six years through targeted economic development projects. An additional 15,000 jobs are expected from projects currently in development.
“We have the job opportunities in Ohio right now for our people, our communities, and the entire state to reach its full potential,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “Now we need to work together as a team to create pathways for our students to get the training and the education they need to fill these jobs. By linking our students with these in-demand job opportunities, we will strengthen our state’s workforce for years to come.”
The Workforce Playbook aims to develop strategies for retaining existing talent, recruiting new talent to Ohio, and increasing productivity within Ohio’s current workforce by examining regional needs and circumstances.
During the roundtable, CSU’s “Earn and Learn” program was highlighted as a model for preparing students for in-demand careers. The program integrates classroom learning with real-world industry experience, directly addressing workforce development needs.
CSU has demonstrated impressive results in one of Ohio’s key workforce goals: retaining college graduates within the state. The university ranks among the top public institutions in Ohio for graduate retention, with 88.7% of CSU bachelor’s degree recipients employed in Ohio one year after graduation and 80.6% remaining in the state five years post-graduation.
During his visit, Lt. Governor Tressel joined CSU President Laura Bloomberg for a tour of the CSU’s Washkewicz College of Engineering, where he met with students and learned about key programs, including plans for a BioMedical complex and a new Construction Management Program.
Similar community discussions will be held across Ohio in the coming weeks to help inform the development of the Workforce Playbook.
