Happy Holidays!  

As we are winding down 2025 and planning for the new year, our team has been reflecting on what a banner year we’ve had with businesses, partners, and funders:  

• Expanded our team with new colleagues to accelerate our work 

• Engaged with employers on their pressing needs in an unpredictable business climate through new special events and services 

• Convened and connected with workforce and talent partners across the region to accelerate collaboration  

• Graduated more than 200 women with new tech credentials  

• Released our second paper about Gen Z in the Cincinnati region focused on STARs, those individuals Skilled Through Alternative Routes 

• Finalized a two year project with the Brookings Institution on creating more inclusive regional economies 

• Explored data about the region to gauge how we are doing compared to peers and to guide us on what we need to do next to improve  

Thanks to the investment and support of our stakeholders, we’ve continued to build upon our previous successes to provide resources and solutions to some of our most pressing needs. We are wrapping up the year grateful for all that we’ve accomplished and inspired to continue our efforts in 2026 for continued impact.  

As you’re thinking of your year-end reflections and making plans for 2026, what is on your mind that you need to tackle 2026?  We’d love to know what’s top of mind for you – take this brief, survey to help us understand what our most engaged partners are thinking: 

If your wish list includes stronger retention, smarter policies, improved organizational culture, or a broader talent pipeline, the Workforce Innovation Center can help turn those business resolutions into real results for your workforce and your bottom line through our standard and customized service offerings including special events like Leadership Sprints or future half-day events. 

As you look toward hiring and visibility, our Career Board and Employer Perks Page offer an easy way to expand your reach for open roles. If you’re ready to expand your network, consider partnering with one of our outstanding partners in our Workforce and Talent Ecosystem to identify organizations that support workforce solutions, specific training and development, or new talent, making it easier to collaborate, find talent, and fill gaps in your strategy. 

As you are finalizing your 2026 plans, consider a resolution that supports every other business goal. Invest in your workforce with the Workforce Innovation Center. 

SAVE THE DATE

How can you better attract, engage, and retain Gen Z talent in our region’s workforce? Join the Workforce Innovation Center, our sponsors and special guests for an engaging discussion specific to the Cincinnati Region's Gen Z population and how you can build upon their strengths to grow your organization. 

Hear from leaders shaping the future of work and education, including representatives from the sponsors of the latest white paper: Cincinnati State, Gateway Community & Technical College, and Great Oaks Career Campuses. 

You'll also receive a FREE resource: a quick reference guide to building mentorship within your workplace.

Join us in February to dive deeply into the value this generation brings to our region and take part in the discussion around what’s working, what’s next, and how businesses and educators can collectively ensure the success of the next generation of talent and drive regional growth.

EMPLOYER TOURS

2025 marked an outstanding year for our Employer Tours Program. 

The Workforce Innovation Center hosted tours of nine local employers representing nearly 20,000 employees across the region. Company hosts spanned in-demand industries including healthcare, manufacturing, aviation, construction, and technology. Representatives of nearly 30 local workforce development organizations participated in the tours and had the opportunity to build relationships with host employers to aid them in addressing their workforce needs while finding meaningful employment for the hundreds of clients they serve. 

We've recapped all of our past employer tours on our blog, with insights on open roles and company culture, so you can catch up if you were unable to attend.

We are now building our 2026 tour schedule, and we’d love to include you. Employers seeking to grow their teams and reach new talent pools can use this program to connect with our workforce partner network and fill open roles with qualified candidates. Workforce professionals seeking employment opportunities for themselves or their clients can sign up for upcoming tours and connect with quality employers.

This program is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Hamilton County, Ohio by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. We are grateful to the support of the Hamilton County Commissioners in funding this program.

WORKFORCE PARTNER NETWORK

The Cincinnati Region has a strong ecosystem of workforce and talent partners who expand employment opportunities for job seekers across our region. As we have done in previous years, in 2025 we have featured several standout organizations in the Cincinnati region in our newsletters and highlighted the impact of their work. As the year draws to a close, we encourage you to consider how you can engage the resources and programs offered by these organizations in your workforce plans for 2026. 

• Recovery Friendly Hamilton County

• GreenLight Fund

• Women's Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

• Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response

• NKY Works

• United Way of Greater Cincinnati

• Learning Grove + NaviGo

• Public Allies Cincinnati 

• Easterseals Redwood

• The Community Builders

The partners featured in our 2025 newsletters represent only a portion of the broader ecosystem, and we remain committed to uplifting the voices of organizations advancing this work throughout Greater Cincinnati. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming newsletter, let us know! Our team would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with you on content that amplifies your impact in our communities.

NEWS OF INTEREST

It’s Time to Bust the ‘Talent Gap’ Myth. Leaders Must Cultivate Talent – Inc.com 

Nearly half of Columbus' young adults are thinking about leaving - Axios Columbus 

This offering can be an X-factor in your 2026 hiring efforts – Cincinnati Business Courier 

Data Centers Are a ‘Gold Rush’ for Construction Workers – The Wall Street Journal 

Cincinnati restaurants struggle to hire amid post-pandemic shifts - Cincinnati Business Courier 

4 million manufacturing jobs are coming to America—but it's one trade job Gen Z doesn't want | Fortune 

Technology is ushering in the era of the 'infinite workday' - Cincinnati Business Courier 

The US wants more apprenticeships. The UK figured out how to make them coveted roles - The Hechinger Report 

The No. 1 cause of America’s affordability problem just got worse - CNN