Ask any business executive where “workforce” ranks among site selection priorities, and the answer is always in the top three … if not No. 1.

At Lake to River, we hear this from companies and consultants alike. Talent isn’t just a concern for human resources. It’s often a deciding factor in multimillion-dollar investments. That’s why workforce development and economic development can’t be separated. They’re two sides of the same coin — and both are central to the work we do every day.

Lake to River is the JobsOhio regional network partner for Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. We are the only organization in the region with direct access to JobsOhio workforce programs and funding — tools that can help growing companies find talent, upskill their teams and stay competitive.

We also bring real-time labor market intelligence to the table.

Through hundreds of business retention and expansion visits annually, we’ve compiled a clear picture of the region’s most pressing talent gaps.

Among the top in-demand roles: engineers, production technicians, welders, CNC operators, industrial maintenance mechanics, electricians, registered nurses, X-ray techs and phlebotomists. These are not just job titles — they represent critical infrastructure within companies that are creating and sustaining our region’s economic momentum.

Our boots-on-the-ground insights are backed by recent labor market data.

Between 2022 and 2024, healthcare practitioners and technical occupations made up 20 percent of all online job postings in the Lake to River region. Registered nurses alone accounted for more than 6,300 unique postings — far exceeding the available local talent pool. Meanwhile, general maintenance and repair workers, laborers and material movers, and licensed practical nurses all posted job openings at rates 2-to-1 or 3-to-1 over available workers.

These aren’t abstract statistics. They’re the real job demands companies are struggling to meet. That’s why we don’t just offer a menu of programs and wish employers luck. We bring a strategy. Whether a company needs 50 CNC operators, a dozen maintenance techs or a pipeline of health care workers, we bring a plan: Here’s what we can do today, how we’ll build capacity for tomorrow, and which partners are at the table.

And that partnership piece is essential.

Lake to River convenes the Regional Workforce Coalition — a collaborative network of training providers, schools, employers, and funders — all committed to one shared goal: closing the talent gaps that could hold our region back. It’s not just a working group. It’s a system, built to respond to employer demand and align with economic opportunities on the horizon.

And the good news? It’s working.

We’re seeing a shift in how schools talk about opportunity — not just about where a student is educated, but how they build a future. And it’s making an impact.

Still, we can’t ignore the challenges. Our region’s population has been declining for decades, and we’re not immune to national labor trends. We need to do more than just train talent — we need to keep it. That means making sure young people understand the industries and careers that exist right here before they make the decision to leave.

For any student or adult wondering whether to stay or go, take a deeper dive into what’s already here. Explore Ohio’s Top Jobs list put out by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. Talk to a teacher, a counselor or a local employer. You might be surprised at what’s possible.

And for business leaders, whether you’re facing workforce challenges or planning your next phase of growth, reach out. Let us show you what’s available — and let’s work together to make sure our region remains a place where companies and people thrive.

Our team works directly with employers to identify needs and navigate available resources. Sometimes it is workforce grant funding for training. For projects that qualify among expanding or new-to-the-region employers, we have direct access to JobsOhio’s Talent Acquisition Services program to help recruit, market and fill open positions. We also offer resources that support businesses of every size and stage, from small expansions to global relocations.

At Lake to River, success isn’t just about metrics. It’s about truly understanding the industry-specific challenges companies face — and responding with solutions that work.

Sarah Boyarko is the vice president of economic development for Lake to River.