Recapping: In-Demand Jobs Week
May 3rd – 7th was In-Demand Jobs Week 2021 – check out the highlights with us!
OhioMeansJobs partners across the state came together May 3rd – 7th to connect talent to fast growing and in demand fields. First up was an industry that is growing all across the Firelands region: manufacturing, construction, and maintenance. These skilled trades are highly sought after in our area. In a normal area of our size, there would be about 7,000 of these positions. Here, there are over 11,000! Several area employers discussed this Erie County OhioMeansJob’s Amber Jenkins. Watch here and here.
Next up was healthcare – both public health and senior care. These careers are in demand in the Firelands region, and even as we emerge out of the COVID-19 pandemic, they aren’t going anywhere! Employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.4 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups. This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services. Watch employers discuss opportunities here and here. One fun fact: The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (such as registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, and dental hygienists) was $69,870 in May 2020, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations in the economy of $41,950.
Thursday brought us to one of the hallmarks of our region’s economy: tourism and hospitality. As we move into the busy summer season, this exciting field is expanding! You can learn about the diverse opportunities available here and here.
Closing out the week was a fun discussion of opportunities at businesses both big and small – retail! Employers discussed here the unique opportunities created in our region in this industry, given that the Firelands are also a hotspot for these jobs. Job posting activity is also high in our area, meaning that whenever you want an opportunity, they are there for you! The national average of jobs posted per month for an area this size is 356 postings, while there are 456 here. Opportunity is definitely knocking!
Thanks to all of the employers who provided information on their opportunities, and to OhioMeansJobs for hosting these discussions! If any of these careers spark your interest, or to learn more about any of these data points, reach out to our team.