Ohio Job Losses In 2000’s Worst Since Great Depression

Since the end of 2000, total non-farm employment in Ohio has declined by 3.7%, a loss of 209,400 jobs. Issuing a report looking at the breakdown of job losses across Ohio, the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) has release a report prepared by Dr. Charles W. McMillion, President and Chief Economist of MBG Information Services.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing employment in Ohio dropped from 1,013,200 at the end of 2000 to 777,200 at the end of 2007. The loss of 236,000 jobs over that time period represents a 23.3% decline in employment. In 2006, the average annual pay for an Ohio private sector manufacturing worker was $50,023.

Observing that the U.S. Commerce Department reported the U.S. imported $1.37 trillion in manufactured goods in 2007, American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) Executive Director Auggie Tantillo said, "Americans haven't stopped buying manufactured goods, but due to lax trade policies, a flood of imports from China and other countries have cost Ohio's manufacturing sector market share and are the chief reason why Ohio has lost 236,000 manufacturing jobs in recent years."