Contributed by Urban League’s Holloman Center for Social Justice and Cincinnati NAACP
The Role of Universities in Ohio’s Workforce
Ohio’s universities are more than institutions of higher learning—they are economic engines that drive workforce development in critical sectors such as STEM, healthcare, education, and public administration. According to the Inter-University Council of Ohio, public universities contributed $68.9 billion to the state’s economy in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, with $48 billion directly attributed to graduates increased earning power (IUC Economic Impact Study, 2024). These figures underscore the essential role of higher education in strengthening Ohio’s workforce.
Senate Bill 1 (SB1) threatens to weaken these workforce pipelines by discouraging faculty, staff, and students from coming to or staying in Ohio. Under SB 1, “full-time faculty members of any state institution of higher education” (Ohio Gen. Assemb., 2025, 36-37). Faculty recruitment and retention are critical to ensuring students receive a high-quality education and career preparation. The Inter-University Council of Ohio found that Ohio’s 14 public universities and their students support 866,782 jobs, accounting for one in eight jobs statewide.
Workforce Implications of Faculty and Student Migration
A thriving university system depends on a strong faculty base, and restrictive policies like SB1 risk driving talent to other states. David Jackson, President of the Bowling Green State University’s American Association of University of Professors chapter, “qualified, talented faculty have decided not to put their name in the hat for a search at some of our institutions because of a fear of what kind of environment they will be coming into.”A WOSU Public Media, a PBS member and Ohio State University affiliate, analysis found that Ohio’s public universities contribute nearly $69 billion in annual economic impact—a figure that could decline if students and faculty relocate to more supportive environments (WOSU, 2023).
Faculty diversity is also crucial for workforce development. The American Council on Education (ACE) notes that diverse faculty representation improves student retention and workforce inclusivity. Additionally, the Lumina Foundation highlights that higher education is a key driver of upward economic mobility (Lumina Foundation, 2017). If Ohio’s institutions can only retain talent with ideological diversity, businesses that rely on skilled workers will struggle to remain competitive in a global economy.
Risks to Ohio’s Economic Competitiveness
Ohio’s ability to compete on a national and global scale hinges on investment in research, innovation, and higher education. Universities drive billions in economic growth through research grants, technology startups, and industry partnerships. However, as other states prepare to recruit displaced faculty and students from Ohio, SB1 places the state at a competitive disadvantage. Businesses and entrepreneurs depend on a steady flow of well-educated graduates with expertise in critical thinking, problem-solving, and cross-cultural competencies. SB1 creates barriers to maintaining a highly skilled workforce, ultimately threatening Ohio’s long-term economic stability.
Recommendations & Solutions
To ensure Ohio remains a hub for workforce development, immediate and targeted action is necessary:
- 1. Establish an Independent Oversight Body
- a. Ohio should create a stakeholder advisory group to oversee SB1’s implementation to secure Ohio’s educational and workforce priorities.
- b. This group should include representatives from the legislature, universities, industry leaders, workforce development organizations, and advocacy groups.
- 2. Mandate Annual Impact Assessments
- a. Ohio must conduct annual evaluations of SB1’s impact on faculty retention, student enrollment, and workforce development, and implement corrective measures, if necessary.
- 3. Expand Workforce Development Initiatives
- a. Strengthen university-industry partnerships to maintain talent pipelines.
- b. Implement state-sponsored retention strategies, such as:
- i. Targeted scholarships
- ii. Grants for faculty and students
- iii. Retention bonuses to counteract migration.
Without these measures, Ohio’s higher education system will struggle to remain competitive, and the state’s economic health will suffer.
Conclusion
While SB1 poses a serious threat to Ohio’s higher education system, thoughtful implementation is critical. The NAACP of Cincinnati and the Holloman Center for Social Justice offer themselves as resources to the Administration to help guide the law’s rollout to ensure it does not negatively impact academic integrity or workforce development initiatives.
We urge the DeWine Administration to take proactive steps that protect Ohio’s economic future. Higher education must remain a pathway to career success, wealth-building, and social mobility for all Ohioans.