Meeting the Workforce Needs of In-Demand Industries in Ohio

Monday, August 25, 2025
3:00–4:00 pm

Join us for a discussion of innovative ways that places are expanding workforce pipelines for in-demand industries, using the semiconductor and related industries in Ohio as an example.

The production of semiconductors, including microchips which are used in a wide variety of electronic applications such as phones and computers, is growing in the United States. Major investments have been made in states like Ohio, Arizona, Texas, New York and Oregon. One expert will present findings from case studies about how local partners from private industry, education and nonprofits in these places have come together to both boost productivity for employers and create promising career pathways for workers, particularly workers without a college degree.

The panel will then share their perspectives on the unique challenges and opportunities in Ohio, including what’s going well and where they see room for future innovation and growth. Specifically, they will discuss the role of community colleges in developing workforce and training programs that are not tethered to one employer or one industry but designed to give workers transferable skills that can be used across multiple career pathways. What are some of the challenges unique to this state versus others? Where are there successes and where do challenges remain?

Panelists will discuss:

• The promise of the semiconductor industry, and related industries
• The dynamism of these industries and their changing needs
• What we know about effective models of cross-sector workforce partnerships both locally and nationally.

The presentation and panel discussion will be followed by Q&A.

Speakers

• Lavea Brachman, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and Visiting Fellow, University College London
• Abbi Failla, Vice President, Business Operations, EASE Logistics
• Scott McLemore, Member, Executive Board, Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and Executive in Residence, Columbus State Community College

Moderator

• Khaz Finley, Outreach Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland