From the clang of steel to the quiet hum of microchip assembly, Ohio's robust industrial landscape is a powerhouse that not only employs one in every eight private sector workers but also fuels the state's economy with over a third of a trillion dollars in annual shipments and a vital trade surplus.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Ohio's manufacturing sector employed 736,200 workers, representing 12.4% of total private employment in the state
- Ohio ranked 4th in the U.S. for manufacturing employment with 736,200 jobs as of May 2023
- The average annual wage in Ohio manufacturing was $72,450 in 2022, 18% above the state average
- Ohio's total nonfarm employment was 5,932,000 in May 2023, with manufacturing at 12.4%
- Manufacturing unemployment rate in Ohio was 3.2% in 2022 average
- Ohio added 15,200 manufacturing jobs from 2021 to 2022
- Ohio manufacturing GDP contribution was $128.4 billion in 2022
- Manufacturing value added 18.7% of Ohio GDP in 2022
- Ohio manufacturing shipments totaled $352.6 billion in 2021
- Ohio exports totaled $51.7 billion in 2022, with manufacturing 94%
- Ohio ranked 7th in U.S. merchandise exports at $51.7 billion in 2022
- Machinery exports from Ohio: $12.4 billion in 2022
- Ohio manufacturing R&D tax credits claimed: $185 million in 2022
- Venture capital deals in Ohio industry: 156 in 2022
- Ohio JobsOhio grants for industry: $142 million awarded 2022
Ohio's diverse manufacturing sector is a major employer and economic driver for the state.
Economic Impact
- Ohio manufacturing GDP contribution was $128.4 billion in 2022
- Manufacturing value added 18.7% of Ohio GDP in 2022
- Ohio manufacturing shipments totaled $352.6 billion in 2021
- Manufacturing payroll in Ohio was $52.1 billion in 2021
- Ohio industry taxes from manufacturing: $12.4 billion in 2022
- Manufacturing multiplier effect created 2.3 additional jobs per direct job in Ohio
- Ohio manufacturing supported 1.1 million total jobs in 2022
- Personal income from manufacturing: $85.2 billion in Ohio 2022
- Manufacturing R&D spending in Ohio: $7.6 billion in 2021
- Ohio manufacturing capital expenditures: $14.2 billion in 2022
- Cost of goods sold in Ohio manufacturing: $245.8 billion 2021
- Manufacturing inventory value in Ohio: $78.4 billion end-2021
- Ohio manufacturing productivity index: 112.4 (2017=100) in 2022
- Energy cost as % of manufacturing value added: 2.8% in Ohio 2021
- Ohio manufacturing patents issued: 4,512 in 2022
- Cluster index for Ohio manufacturing: 1.45 nationally in 2021
- Ohio manufacturing venture capital investment: $2.1 billion in 2022
- Manufacturing bankruptcy filings in Ohio: 245 in 2022
- Ohio manufacturing construction spending: $3.8 billion in 2022
- Tax incentives claimed by Ohio manufacturers: $450 million in 2022
- Ohio manufacturing household income impact: +$15,200 average 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
Ohio’s manufacturing sector is the state’s economic engine room, generating massive wealth and jobs, but it runs on such expensive fuel—from capital investments to tax incentives—that you have to admire its efficiency while nervously watching the gauge on its profitability and stability.
Employment and Labor
- Ohio's total nonfarm employment was 5,932,000 in May 2023, with manufacturing at 12.4%
- Manufacturing unemployment rate in Ohio was 3.2% in 2022 average
- Ohio added 15,200 manufacturing jobs from 2021 to 2022
- Women comprised 28.5% of Ohio manufacturing workforce in 2022
- Hispanic or Latino workers made up 7.8% of Ohio manufacturing employees in 2022
- Ohio manufacturing jobs grew 2.1% year-over-year in December 2023
- Average weekly hours in Ohio manufacturing were 41.2 in 2022
- Overtime hours in manufacturing averaged 3.8 per week in Ohio 2022
- Labor force participation rate for manufacturing workers in Ohio was 64.5% in 2022
- Ohio manufacturing initial claims for unemployment averaged 4,500 weekly in 2022
- Union membership in Ohio manufacturing was 18.2% in 2022
- Manufacturing apprenticeships registered in Ohio totaled 12,345 in FY2022
- Ohio's manufacturing workforce aged 55+ comprised 25.4% in 2022
- Entry-level manufacturing wages in Ohio averaged $45,670 annually in 2022
- Manufacturing job openings in Ohio averaged 45,000 monthly in 2022
- Quit rate in Ohio manufacturing was 2.1% monthly average 2022
- Layoff rate in manufacturing was 0.8% in Ohio 2022
- Ohio manufacturing workers with associate degrees: 15.2% in 2022
- High school graduates in Ohio manufacturing: 32.4% of workforce 2022
- Manufacturing veterans employed in Ohio: 62,300 in 2022
- Disability employment rate in Ohio manufacturing: 4.5% in 2022
- Remote work in manufacturing: 5.2% of Ohio jobs in 2022
- Manufacturing job concentration highest in Allen County, Ohio at 28% of employment 2022
- Ohio manufacturing employment share by county averaged 11.8% in 2022
- Projected manufacturing job growth in Ohio: 1.2% annually to 2030
Employment and Labor Interpretation
Ohio's factories are humming with activity and overtime slips, yet they're facing a future where they must not only replace a quarter of their aging workforce but also compete for new talent in a tight market that, for all its growth, still struggles with diversity, education, and the simple lure of a remote-work option.
Exports and Trade
- Ohio exports totaled $51.7 billion in 2022, with manufacturing 94%
- Ohio ranked 7th in U.S. merchandise exports at $51.7 billion in 2022
- Machinery exports from Ohio: $12.4 billion in 2022
- Transportation equipment exports: $15.2 billion from Ohio 2022
- Chemicals exports from Ohio: $8.9 billion in 2022
- Primary metals exports: $4.1 billion Ohio 2022
- Computer/electronic exports: $3.7 billion from Ohio 2022
- Fabricated metals exports: $2.8 billion Ohio 2022
- Plastics exports: $2.2 billion from Ohio 2022
- Food exports from Ohio: $1.9 billion in 2022
- Top export market Canada: $12.6 billion Ohio goods 2022
- Mexico Ohio exports: $8.3 billion in 2022
- China Ohio exports: $2.4 billion 2022
- United Kingdom: $2.1 billion Ohio exports 2022
- Japan Ohio exports: $1.8 billion 2022
- Ohio export-related jobs: 254,000 in 2022
- Export growth Ohio: 4.2% from 2021 to 2022
- Aerospace exports Ohio: $1.5 billion 2022
- Medical device exports: $1.2 billion Ohio 2022
- Ohio small business exports: 7,245 companies in 2022
- Ports handling Ohio exports: Cleveland port 12 million tons 2022
- Foreign direct investment from exports: $28 billion stock Ohio 2022
- Ohio export promotion events: 45 in 2022
- Trade surplus Ohio: $18.4 billion in 2022
- Ohio FDI projects supported by exports: 112 in 2022
Exports and Trade Interpretation
Ohio isn't just making things, it's building the world's foundation one machine, vehicle, and chemical at a time, proving its industrial might is both a serious economic engine and a global handshake with a firm Midwestern grip.
Innovation and Investment
- Ohio manufacturing R&D tax credits claimed: $185 million in 2022
- Venture capital deals in Ohio industry: 156 in 2022
- Ohio JobsOhio grants for industry: $142 million awarded 2022
- Manufacturing startups in Ohio: 342 founded 2022
- Patents per manufacturing employee: 0.006 in Ohio 2022
- Ohio EDA Tech Hubs designation for advanced manufacturing 2023
- Industry 4.0 investments Ohio: $1.2 billion 2022
- Robotics installations in Ohio manufacturing: 2,450 units 2022
- AI adoption in Ohio industry: 28% of firms 2022
- Ohio battery manufacturing investments: $4.5 billion announced 2022
- Clean energy manufacturing grants Ohio: $78 million 2022
- Workforce training for advanced manufacturing: 45,000 Ohioans 2022
- Ohio semiconductor investments: $2 billion Intel project 2022
- Additive manufacturing firms Ohio: 156 in 2022
- Cybersecurity investments in Ohio industry: $320 million 2022
- Ohio Propel Ohio program funded 23 manufacturing projects 2022
- Green manufacturing certifications Ohio: 1,234 firms 2022
- Ohio Third Frontier grants for industry tech: $56 million 2022
- Digital twin adoption Ohio manufacturing: 19% 2022
Innovation and Investment Interpretation
Ohio's industrial strategy seems to be: lure in the big, flashy projects, sprinkle some serious money on R&D and automation, and then quietly, desperately, train thousands of new workers while trying to get more than a sliver of the existing ones to patent something.
Manufacturing Sector
- In 2022, Ohio's manufacturing sector employed 736,200 workers, representing 12.4% of total private employment in the state
- Ohio ranked 4th in the U.S. for manufacturing employment with 736,200 jobs as of May 2023
- The average annual wage in Ohio manufacturing was $72,450 in 2022, 18% above the state average
- Ohio has 11,927 manufacturing establishments as of 2021
- Primary metal manufacturing in Ohio employed 28,400 workers in 2022
- Fabricated metal product manufacturing contributed $25.6 billion to Ohio GDP in 2021
- Ohio's machinery manufacturing sector output reached $18.4 billion in 2022
- Transportation equipment manufacturing in Ohio had 162,500 employees in 2022
- Chemical manufacturing establishments in Ohio numbered 1,045 in 2021
- Plastics and rubber products manufacturing employed 45,200 in Ohio 2022
- Food manufacturing in Ohio generated $32.1 billion in shipments in 2021
- Computer and electronic product manufacturing in Ohio had $12.7 billion value of shipments 2021
- Ohio's manufacturing productivity grew 2.1% annually from 2017-2022
- Electrical equipment manufacturing employed 19,800 in Ohio 2022
- Printing and related support activities in Ohio had 15,300 employees 2022
- Textile mills in Ohio employed 2,100 workers in 2022
- Apparel manufacturing establishments totaled 145 in Ohio 2021
- Wood product manufacturing output was $4.2 billion in Ohio 2021
- Paper manufacturing employed 12,500 in Ohio 2022
- Petroleum and coal products manufacturing generated $8.9 billion in Ohio 2021
- Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing had 22,400 employees in Ohio 2022
- Furniture and related product manufacturing employed 14,200 in Ohio 2022
- Miscellaneous manufacturing establishments numbered 1,856 in Ohio 2021
- Ohio manufacturing energy consumption was 1,247 trillion BTU in 2021
- Ohio's manufacturing sector had a location quotient of 1.25 for national comparison in 2021
- Aerospace product manufacturing employed 11,300 in Ohio 2022
- Motor vehicle manufacturing in Ohio produced 1.2 million units in 2022
- Ship and boat building establishments totaled 45 in Ohio 2021
- Medical equipment manufacturing output $6.8 billion in Ohio 2021
- Ohio manufacturing establishments with 500+ employees numbered 142 in 2021
Manufacturing Sector Interpretation
Though it may not be the flashiest on the block, Ohio’s industrial heart—beating with everything from million-car factories to medical devices and well-paid metalworkers—still reliably powers the state and anchors the national economy, one solid widget at a time.
Sources & References
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