YOUNGSTOWN — Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel promoted the economic opportunities in Ohio and the Mahoning Valley during his stop Tuesday at Youngstown State University as part of its In-Demand Jobs Week Summit.

“We need 540,000 jobs filled by 2030 that aren’t currently filled,” Tressel told the audience at YSU’s Williamson College of Business Administration. “That’s a bunch of opportunity.”

Tressel’s appearance at the summit addressed collaboration, partnerships and training. As Gov. Mike DeWine’s lead spokesman for Ohio’s Workforce Playbook, Tressel is meeting with business and education leaders across the state to spotlight in-demand jobs.

“The future of workforce development depends on our ability to innovate, collaborate and create opportunities that connect talent to in-demand careers,” YSU President Bill Johnson said as he welcomed Tressel.

“We are committed to leading this transformation and ensuring that Ohio’s workforce is not only prepared to meet the demands of today but also thriving in the industries of tomorrow.”

DeWine’s office reported that Ohio added more than 81,000 private-sector jobs during the last six years, with approximately 15,000 more in development.

Tressel said that as the state experiences an economic upswing businesses require skilled workers to fill positions.

“We have all kinds of people working hard providing the pathway to get you there, whether it’s the K through 12 system, the trade schools, the career and tech centers, the two-year schools; the four-year schools, all the different initiatives that people have out there to train workforce, we’ve got the pathways for people to fill those opportunities,” he said.

Generating awareness is the next step.

“And then we’ve got to figure out as a state, what is it that is the missing link to how we can make sure we execute all those good things that are going on?” he said.

“That’s the key. Do our young people know what’s available for them?”

All the parties involved — government, education, economic and workforce agencies, business and industry — must continue to collaborate to succeed, Tressel said.

“We’re here to help,” Tressel said of state involvement. “We’ll keep trying to learn how we can be helpful and get out of the way.

“You’ll keep evolving, but keep getting together like this. The governor uses this region as a poster child. They talk about how this area gets it as to how we can work together.”