As another school year comes to a close, thousands of young people across the Cincinnati region are moving from classrooms, career training programs, and apprenticeships into the workforce. Whether they are graduating from a four-year university, earning an associate degree, completing career technical education, or entering the workforce directly after high school, these individuals represent the present and future of our regional economy.

Our research on Gen Z in the regional workforce has shown that early career talent is already reshaping workplace expectations, opening doors for employers to engage them differently. Their emphasis on growth opportunities, transparent communication, flexibility, mentorship, and workplaces where they can see a clear path forward present opportunities for businesses to re-evaluate how they foster early career talent development to increase engagement and retention within their workforce. 

It is important to note that graduating talent does not follow one pathway. Many graduates this season are skilled through alternative routes (STARs) and have built critical workforce skills through career technical education, vocational certificates, military service, apprenticeships, associate degrees, high-school education, or on-the-job learning. With the majority of jobs in our region not requiring a bachelor’s degree, Greater Cincinnati offers a wealth of opportunities for young STARs to succeed.

We know that finding a position can be a hurdle for some graduates and we want to make it easier for them to find a job. Our WorkOhio Southwest Ohio hub is designated to do just that. We are sharing resources, events, and new opportunities at our WorkOhio resource page and job seekers can request information and get connected through WorkOhio.gov. And as you'll see from the additional information below, we're welcoming Joseph Ligon to our team, our new WorkOhio coordinator. We're also actively engaged in adding more employers to our employer network.

Whether you are welcoming new graduates into your work environments or celebrating students in your own life as they navigate their next steps, I hope you'll join me in celebrating these accomplishments and wanting these recent grads to succeed in our region!

NEW TEAM MEMBER

We are pleased to announce that Joseph Ligon has joined the Workforce Innovation Center team as the WorkOhio Southwest Regional Hub Coordinator. 

Joseph brings a strong blend of operations, marketing and client service experience to the team. His background consists of project management, problem-solving, attention to detail, and collaboration, along with experience in consumer research and brand strategy.

Before joining the Workforce Innovation Center, Joseph served as an Account Coordinator at pep, LLC., where he managed purchase order workflows, coordinated brand approvals, and worked closely with account executives and suppliers to keep projects on schedule. Prior to that, he spent time at Best Buy and as an Ad Campaign Manager at TripleLift collaborating with clients such as Avis, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Hershey. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Sales and Marketing) from Tuskegee University. He volunteers with various regional organizations including the Freestore Foodbank. 

In his role as the WorkOhio coordinator, Joseph will oversee our processes of working with job seekers, nonprofit and government partners, education institutions, and employers to help connect people to the resources and opportunities they're looking for. 

Please join us in welcoming Joseph!

WORKFORCE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Our partners at Recovery Friendly Hamilton County (RFHC) work to equip local employers with the tools & resources necessary to address substance use disorder among their workforce through their Recovery Friendly Workplace designations.

RFHC was recently featured in The National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute's 2026 National & State Recovery Friendly Workplace Report. The report serves as a comprehensive look at the growing Recovery Friendly Workplace movement across the country as employers seek to provide added supports for their workforce through recovery friendly practices and resources.

According to the report, over 1,500 employers representing over 570,000 employees are now engaged with Recovery Friendly Workplace initiatives. We are proud to partner with Recovery Friendly Hamilton County as they lead this work in Hamilton County, and we are excited to seeing their continued impact on the lives of individuals and employers across the region.

WORKOHIO

The Workforce Innovation Center continues to advance our work within the statewide WorkOhio initiative as the Southwest Ohio Regional Hub leader. WorkOhio is designed to connect job seekers to personalized support and trusted job resources by coordinating services and resources from community-based organizations, education and training providers, and employers across seven regional hubs.

Our team is looking to strengthen our partnerships with employers across the region in the coming months to facilitate participant job placement and connect local businesses to a talent pipeline of qualified WorkOhio Candidates. 

WorkOhio Employer Partners will have the opportunity to post their open roles on our Career Board & Perks Page and will receive an official WorkOhio Employer Partner designation on those resources to help them connect with job seekers enrolled in the program. 

Visit the WorkOhio page on our website today to learn more about the program and join our employer partner network.

FEATURED EVENT

Join the Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati for our Summer 2026 Convening at the Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Hub in Hamilton, Ohio. Hear directly from Butler Tech, Miami University, and Ohio Means Jobs-Butler County about the work they each lead and what becomes possible when education, training, and workforce services share a single space.

The AM Hub offers a close-up look at how aligned partners can strengthen pathways for learners, workers, and employers across the region through a shared focus on regional workforce priorities.

Attendees will understand the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Workforce Hub as a regional workforce asset, learn how Butler Tech, Miami University, and Ohio Means Jobs - Butler County collaborate within a shared model, and explore how co-located partnerships can extend reach, strengthen alignment with employers and reduce fragmentation across the ecosystem.

FROM THE CHAMBER

This event brings leaders together across groups to strengthen connections, spark dialogue, and expand perspectives on leadership and influence. Centered on the themes of influence, authority, stakeholder persuasion, and cross-functional leadership, this experience will challenge attendees to think beyond their immediate circles and consider how they can lead more effectively in complex environments.

The program will feature a dynamic panel of influential leaders from a range of industries, offering insights into how they’ve built credibility, navigated stakeholder relationships, and driven change. A presentation on our State of the Region will provide broader context on emerging trends and opportunities, helping ground discussions in the current landscape. Following these sessions, participants will engage in a facilitated workshop and small-group discussions to reflect on key takeaways, exchange ideas, and identify actionable next steps.

NEWS OF INTEREST

A new type of skills gap is emerging for employers – Cincinnati Business Courier

UC Clermont to launch redesigned business degrees for neurodivergent students this fall – Local 12

MY VIEW: Ohio in-demand jobs week highlights opportunity and responsibility – Cincinnati Business Courier

Inflation Is Wiping Out Americans’ Wage Gains. Gas Prices Are to Blame. - WSJ

Moving beyond awareness: Why employers must take action on mental health – Cincinnati Business Courier

AI has contorted the job market for twentysomethings leaving college this May | Semafor

AI-driven layoffs aren't generating the returns companies expected, study finds | Fortune

This Summer's Teen Job Market is the Toughest in Decades - WSJ