CLEVELAND — According to a new report from the CSU College of Urban Affairs, Cuyahoga County is missing out on 51,000 good paying jobs that commonly exist in similar cities like Columbus and Pittsburgh.
The report issued by CSU Professor Bob Gleeson titled: "Identifying Sector-Based Opportunities to Create Living-Wage Jobs in Cuyahoga County, Ohio," identifies where Northeast Ohio needs to improve in filling jobs in several key employment sectors.
Gleeson told News 5 the report outlined where current good paying jobs exist in areas like construction and extraction, production, transportation and material moving occupations.
Gleeson said young people and their families need to be made aware of these job opportunities and receive the proper training.
"If we filled those jobs, that would create about 51,000 jobs, just here in Cuyahoga County,” Gleeson said.
"It’s hard to talk parents and students into going into programs where there are known opportunities."
“Those are skills that can be acquired in a relatively short term, through well done targeted training programs.”
Gleeson said filling these job sectors would play a significant role in speeding-up a Northeast Ohio recovery.
Caitlin Johnson, communications director for Policy Matters Ohio, agrees job training is critical but told News 5 increasing the state minimum wage would be a quicker way to jump start the local economy.
“If we did that, we would give 2 million people a raise, if we raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023,” Johnson said.
"The system as a whole is not working for most working people.”
"Instead of having employers say we just can’t find people, people just don’t have the skills, it would be better for them to step up and support public funding for things that will give people the skills."
Meanwhile, Gleeson said other job sectors where Northeast Ohio is falling behind are installation, maintenance, repair occupations, sales, management occupations, healthcare practitioners and technical occupations.
