Report Reveals Misalignment of High-demand Occupations and Skills/Training/Education of Northeast Ohio Workforce
Most prevalent misalignment is in three important sectors: manufacturing, healthcare, and computer and IT
There is a misalignment of job opportunities and workforce in growing, high-potential industries, many offering family-sustaining wages, reports the Aligning Opportunities report by Team Northeast Ohio (Team NEO). The report, made possible by a grant from the Cleveland Foundation and generous support of The Sherwin-Williams Company, was released today to coincide with In-Demand Jobs Week, a statewide celebration of jobs, industries and skills that are in high demand.
An update to Team NEO’s 2017 Aligning Opportunities report, the study provides an in-depth look at labor force trends, job demand through 2021, talent supply, and demand and supply alignment. It focuses on occupations in three high-growth industries — computer and IT, healthcare and manufacturing — and explores the implications for talent development policies in the region. New to the 2018 edition is a look at entry alignment (positions that require less than five years of experience) and risk of automation (probability of computerization). In addition, a new occupation group, education, was added to this year’s report.
“The objective of conducting this research is to provide a tool that assists secondary and postsecondary educational institutions across Northeast Ohio in re-evaluating professional and technical education and training programs,” explained Jacob Duritsky, vice president, Strategy and Research for Team NEO. “There is a significant gap between employer demand and the types of degrees being offered. By 2020, a projected 65 percent of jobs will require a postsecondary credential, and there will continue to be a significant gap.”
Other key findings include:
- There is a tremendous opportunity to connect qualified candidates to well-paying jobs in high-potential industries in Northeast Ohio.
- The most in-demand sectors are manufacturing, healthcare and IT.
- Of the 19 occupation categories studied, and 350+ different jobs associated with them, only three are aligned with supply and demand. Further, for entry-level positions, only two of the 19 are aligned.
Economic development partners and educational institutions across the region will use these study results as a foundation for discussions about accelerating talent development policy in Northeast Ohio.
About Team NEO
Team NEO is an economic development organization focused on creating jobs for Northeast Ohio’s residents. In collaboration with our partners, it leads the region’s business attraction efforts, supports business retention and expansion work as Northeast Ohio’s JobsOhio affiliate, accelerates the impact of innovation in the region, and aligns strategies and resources within the economic development network to maximize its impact. In addition, Team NEO provides tools to assist employers in attracting talent to the region. For more information, visit www.clevelandplus.com.
Team NEO is part of the robust Northeast Ohio Economic Development System, providing business decision-makers with access to customized solutions that mitigate risk, foster innovation and accelerate growth through a connected and collaborative ecosystem.