Employment in the 18-county Northeast Ohio region is predicted to grow by roughly 169,000 workers — to more than 2.1 million people — by 2020, according to a new report from economic development group Team NEO.
The biggest growth should come in health care, which already is the biggest employer in the 18-county area, the report said. This sector is expected to add nearly 39,300 jobs, bringing the total number of health-care workers in the region to more than 342,000.
The report predicts the vaunted manufacturing sector — which has bled jobs in the region and the state for decades — will see a slight decrease (fewer than 4,000 jobs) in employment by 2020.
Jacob Duritsky, director of business attraction for Team NEO, said while manufacturing job growth is projected to be essentially flat over the next eight years, there will be opportunity for individuals as older workers retire.
For now, manufacturing is a bright spot in terms of job growth, driving the region out of the Great Recession, Team NEO officials say. The group’s latest quarterly economic review released Monday shows there were 7,000 more manufacturing jobs in the third quarter compared with a year ago.
The forecast says the government sector should grow by more than 18,500 workers; accommodation and food services is predicted to add about 25,000 jobs. Other growth: professional, scientific and technical services, 13,400; construction, about 12,100, and finance and insurance, 8,600.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330 996-3781 of kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
