Ohio manufacturing reinforced its role as the state’s economic backbone in 2025, as new data, policy engagement and workforce initiatives underscored the sector’s scale and importance.

“Manufacturers showed again this year that they will invest, hire and compete when the policy environment is right,” OMA president Ryan Augsburger said. “The choices made now will determine whether Ohio keeps its manufacturing edge.”

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) 2025 Ohio Manufacturing Counts report confirmed manufacturing generated $137.9 billion in GDP in 2024, accounting for 16.5% of Ohio’s private economy, the largest share of any industry. The sector supports more than 687,000 jobs, ranking Ohio fifth nationally in manufacturing output and third in employment.

Throughout the year, OMA engaged on critical policy issues affecting manufacturers, including energy reliability, regulatory certainty and federal actions impacting Ohio’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The association urged state and federal leaders to protect programs and policies that support competitiveness and growth.

Workforce development remained a top priority, with continued collaboration among employers, educators and policymakers to address tens of thousands of annual manufacturing job openings statewide. 12/19/2025