Nursing represents nearly half of southwest Ohio’s top ‘in-demand’ jobs. What are the others?

Southwest Ohio is expected to have more than 12,000 annual job openings in in-demand occupations through 2024, according to new reports from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

An “in-demand job” in Ohio is defined as paying 80 percent of state median wage ($13.47 per hour) or more, having annual growth in the number of jobs greater than the statewide average of 50 and having annual job openings greater than the statewide average of 230.

The ODJFS reports showcase the top 10 in-demand occupations in each of six Ohio regions, along with the number of annual openings, starting wages, median wages and required education levels and are available at omj.ohio.gov/IDJ.

The top 10 are registered nurses, customer service representatives, nursng assistants, office clerks (general), general and operations managers, accountants and auditors, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, maintenance and repair workers (general), sales representatives, services beyond those listed and first line supervisors/managers of food preparation and service workers.

The “in-demand” occupations represent approximately 17,000 related job titles that have been designated as Ohio’s in-demand jobs.

The fact that 42 percent of the jobs in southwest Ohio are either registered nurses, nursing assistants or licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses shouldn’t come as a surprise, officials said. The area is awash in new medical facilities and the expansion of existing ones, even those who have been on the scene for a relatively short span of time.

Nursing, as a field, is a rapidly expanding career choice across Ohio.

“Registered nurses represent the No. 1 most in-demand job in 5 out of the 6 regions in the state and is in second place in the sixth (southeast Ohio),” ODJFS spokesperson Bret Crow told this news outlet. “In-demand jobs are those with a promising future and a sustainable wage, and jobs in the nursing industry check off both of those boxes without a doubt.”

OhioMeansJobs reports that 65 percent of the in-demand jobs in Ohio pay more than $50,000 a year. ApprenticeOhio graduates earn an average of more than $60,000 per year.

“All of these jobs pay well and have promising futures,” said ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall.

The top in-demand occupations with career paths that include apprenticeships and their starting salaries are structural iron workers ($21.85 per hour), millwrights ($17.81), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters ($16.80), electricians ($15.56), carpenters ($15.38) and sheet metal workers ($13.56).

Median range for those positions ranges between $20.72 and $27 per hour.

Ohioans can view the reports and visit www.OhioMeansJobs.com to research in-demand occupations, identify local training programs, and find job openings.

“These reports will help students and anyone interested in exploring new career paths make more informed decisions based upon opportunities in their area,” Hall said.

In-demand regional profile reports for each education level are available, including the annual amount of openings for such a position in the region and the starting wage.

OMJ also offers total projected annual openings and 2024 employment by occupational group.

About the Author