Besides increasing migration into the state, the primary way to grow Ohio’s labor force is to expand labor force participation — currently around 62%. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has released a report exploring factors related to labor force participation. Findings include:

• The largest pool of Ohio’s non-participants is comprised of those with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• A significant number of non-participants report having a disability.
• Nationally, prescription opioids accounted for 44% of the decline in male labor force participation from 2001 to 2015, according to one study.

See the full report. 3/9/2020