Workforce Development
Growing Ohio’s Life Sciences Workforce
Ohio’s life sciences industry is experiencing record growth, innovation, and public and private investment. Access to a skilled workforce remains a top challenge for OLS members, and growing Ohio’s life sciences workforce is essential to the industry’s continued success.
Workforce Strategy Overview
To address the growing need for skilled talent, Ohio Life Sciences partnered with member company Workmorphis to build a workforce strategy and implementation plan, shaped by extensive input from member companies, educational institutions, and partners. Our mission became clear: Unify industry and education to grow Ohio’s life sciences workforce.
Leaders in industry and education told us that they want to develop stronger partnerships, but getting started was perceived as too challenging based on the time and expertise needed. Together, with the support of OLS, life sciences leaders from industry and education have committed to growing our future workforce.
Formally, the focus of the OLS Workforce Strategy includes four key pillars and 22 initiatives designed to enhance industry-education partnerships and grow the life sciences workforce over two years with support from JobsOhio and the State of Ohio.
Strategic Pillars
Catalyze industry-education partnerships
Align educational offerings with industry needs
Improve public awareness of life sciences careers
Empower life sciences employers to compete for talent
Next Steps
As Ohio Life Sciences implements its workforce strategy, activity has begun in these, and other areas.
• OLS will be hiring a Director of Workforce Partnerships to oversee the implementation of the workforce strategy and provide hands-on assistance and introductions to members seeking stronger partnerships with education or industry.
• OLS is assembling a statewide directory of workforce contacts at life sciences companies and educational institutions that will be made available to OLS member investors. Our members requested this resource to reduce the need for “cold calls” and allow them to connect with the appropriate contacts to advance their workforce needs.
• OLS will launch a workforce community on LinkedIn to connect life sciences industry and educational leaders to promote connectivity and sharing of workforce-related announcements, events, programs, and funding opportunities.
• OLS has kicked off a statewide workforce tour to connect leaders from industry, education, and government to share ideas, challenges, and opportunities to transform policies and practices to support the growth of Ohio’s life sciences workforce.
• OLS is seeking support from the state of Ohio to enhance the talent pipeline for this important industry.
Get involved!
Growing Ohio’s life sciences workforce will take a coordinated effort between industry, educators, and policymakers. You have a role to play, and we need your participation to maximize this initiative.