Workforce Management

Ohio Unemployment Rate Rose to 5.5% in March

According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio’s non-agriculture wage and salary employment decreased by 39,700 in March, and the state’s unemployment rate rose to 5.5% in March from 4.1% in February. 4/17/2020

JobsOhio Invests $1.5M in NW Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce

JobsOhio recently announced that it made a $1.5 million investment to seed manufacturing talent production in Northwest Ohio. The statewide economic-development corporation engaged with 30 manufacturing businesses in the region to map critical skills, identify employer needs, and assess the education landscape and capacity to fill those job requirements. 4/15/2020

Advanced Manufacturing Added to DOL’s Competency Model Clearinghouse

An updated “advanced manufacturing model” is now available on the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop Competency Model Clearinghouse — which helps develop technical competencies that are necessary in economically vital industries and sectors of the American economy. The clearinghouse can be used to develop apprenticeship, career pathway, and other workforce training programs. 4/13/2020

How COVID-19 Unemployment Compares to the Great Recession, Great Depression

More than 21 million Americans have lost their job during the last four weeks. Goldman Sachs predicts the jobless rate could rise to 15% in the months ahead. Such a level of unemployment would be much worse than the worst of the 2008-09 Great Recession, according to this comparison — but still a far cry from the depths of the Great Depression, when the unemployment rate hit 24.9% in 1933. 4/16/2020

Ohio’s Weekly Unemployment Claims Exceed 226K

Ohio recorded 226,007 initial claims for unemployment compensation last week, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). That is a drop from the prior week’s record of 272,117 initial claims. Over the last three weeks, 696,519 workers have filed new claims.

According to ODJFS, more than $124 million in unemployment compensation payments have been distributed to more than 195,000 claimants over the last three weeks. 4/9/2020

More Than 33,000 Job Openings at Ohio’s Essential Businesses

At last check, there were more than 33,000 job openings at Ohio’s essential businesses — including manufacturers — posted on the state’s website that matches businesses with Ohioans looking for work. Lt. Gov. Husted this week implored Ohioans who are seeking work to use the site. 4/8/2020

Recognizing Ohio’s Approach to Building Manufacturing Talent

In an editorial in IndustryWeek, Dr. Ethan Karp, president and CEO of Northeast Ohio’s MEP MAGNET, this week shared his perspectives on closing the talent gap in manufacturing — a gap he says will remain even after the surge of COVID-19-related unemployment.

Karp writes: “Sadly, our talent pipeline is broken.” The only way to address the complex problems behind manufacturing’s workforce woes is for companies, communities and leaders to work together, Karp says.

He points to the OMA’s efforts to support a statewide system of manufacturing sector partnerships, which are “led by people who know the industry best: local manufacturing leaders.” Sector partnerships, he says, “set the agenda and drive the solutions” since “everyone needed to make change is at the table.” 4/7/2020

Unemployment Claims Break Records In Ohio, U.S.

Ohio reported 272,117 initial claims for unemployment compensation last week, according to information from the Department of Job and Family Services. The number of claims filed was an all-time high for Ohio for the second consecutive week.

The state has received 468,414 claims over the two-week period. Over that short span, the state has issued more than $45 million in unemployment payments to more than 108,000 workers.

Nationwide, total non-farm payroll employment fell by 701,000 in March, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported April 3. For the month, U.S. manufacturing employment edged down by 18,000 jobs. 4/3/2020

New Site Seeks Employees for Essential Businesses

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted this week unveiled a new website operated by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation to match essential businesses with Ohioans who are able and willing to work as an essential employee during the COVID-19 crisis. The site is designed for both businesses and job seekers. 4/2/2020

Just Days Left to Apply for Current Round of TechCred

Ohio manufacturers have until March 31 to apply for the current round of TechCred — an OMA-supported, state program that reimburses employers (up to $2,000 per employee) to upskill employees, even if they are unable to perform their typical day-to-day duties at the present time due to the COVID-19 crisis. Many of these trainings can be completed online. Employers can receive up to $30,000 per funding round. Here’s more information. 3/24/2020