Ohio Workforce Dynamics

The Job-to-job (J2J) flow data shows the number of workers moving from employer to employer, as well as workers moving in and out of the workforce. Many of these activities go unnoticed in the traditional labor market data because they do not affect monthly or quarterly totals. For example, many workers who leave one employer for another simply fill an already existing job. These types of job changes do not add or subtract from total employment, however, they are indicators of the health of the labor market.

In September 2016, Governor Kasich challenged the Governor's Executive Workforce Board to work with the Office of Workforce Transformation to identify ways to prepare and continuously retrain Ohioans of all ages for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Recognizing the importance of this charge and the dynamic needs of businesses in Ohio, the Board worked with the Office of Workforce Transformation and appropriate state agencies to determine the most prominent workforce challenges and corresponding recommendations to ensure Ohio's businesses have access to a skilled and productive workforce.

Members of the General Assembly and their constituents periodically have questions about workforce development in Ohio. While there is not a single definition of what constitutes 'workforce development' in the U.S., generally these efforts focus on individuals, rather than businesses. Federal law provides funding and establishes the framework for Ohio's workforce development system, which the state implements in coordination with local governments. This information brief answers some of the most frequently asked questions regarding workforce development in Ohio.