CLEVELAND, Ohio, April 13, 2026 – Northeast Ohio’s regional economy is projected to outpace the nation in productivity gains, even as population and employment trends present ongoing challenges. Team NEO released a report today that examines a decade of economic trends, analyzing key indicators from 2020 through projections to 2030 to better understand the region’s trajectory.
The findings point to a clear takeaway: Northeast Ohio’s economy is growing stronger through productivity, and the next phase of growth will be driven by the region’s ability to grow talent.
The analysis includes all 14 counties in the region, with projections based on Moody’s and Lightcast data.
GDP
- GDP is projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2030. By comparison, state of Ohio GDP is projected to grow 9.7%, and the country is projected to grow 11.6% for this same time period.
Employment
- Employment is projected to remain relatively flat through 2030, with modest periods of decline reflecting an aging workforce and slower population growth.
- These trends highlight the opportunity to strengthen labor force participation and increase the concentration of prime working -age talent.
Productivity
- Output per worker is projected to grow 9.2% from 2025 to 2030. This outpaces the state of Ohio at 8.7% growth and the U.S., with growth at 7.4% for the same time period.
- Manufacturing output per worker has kept pace with – and in some years exceeded – overall regional productivity gains, even as employment has declined, underscoring a shift toward efficiency, technology and capital investment.
“We are seeing encouraging gains in productivity across Northeast Ohio, even as employment and population growth present challenges,” said Jacob Duritsky, Team NEO’s vice president of strategy, research, and talent. “Bending the curve – or changing the trajectory of our economy – will require us to turn that strength into broader momentum by attracting talent, expanding opportunity, and advancing a more vibrant economy for all.”
As the region looks ahead, aligning talent strategies with continued gains in productivity will be key to bending the curve and unlocking Northeast Ohio’s next phase of economic growth.
About Team NEO
Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that retains, expands, and attracts jobs, businesses, and opportunities across Northeast Ohio’s 14-county region. As JobsOhio’s exclusive partner in Northeast Ohio, Team NEO connects businesses to the data, resources, sites, and incentives to win new business investment for Northeast Ohio. The organization also provides insights to build talent pipelines, prepares development-ready sites, and markets the region as a premier business destination. To learn how Team NEO helps make Northeast Ohio more competitive, visit northeastohioregion.com.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio, Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO. JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage.