By Steve Stivers, President & CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Recent headlines have suggested that Ohio’s population is destined for long-term decline, citing projections from a state development report that rely heavily on birth and death rates.
While those demographic trends matter, they tell only part of the story and overlook one of the most important drivers of population growth: economic opportunity.
The reality is that Ohio is growing, and it’s growing because people follow jobs.
The analysis in question focuses on natural population change (births minus deaths) but does not fully account for domestic migration, particularly the influx of workers and families moving to Ohio as a result of unprecedented economic investment.
That omission leads to a misleading conclusion at a moment when Ohio’s economy is doing exactly what strong economies do — attracting people.
Recent national data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that while overall U.S. population growth slowed significantly in 2025, rising by just 0.5 percent, Ohio was one of the states with positive net domestic migration.
In fact, Ohio recorded an 11,926 net domestic migration gain in 2025, a dramatic turnaround from a loss of more than 32,000 in 2021.
Over the last several years, Ohio has secured some of the most significant economic development wins in the nation.
Companies are choosing Ohio for large-scale manufacturing, technology, logistics, and energy projects because of our workforce, infrastructure, location, and business climate.
Those investments are creating real jobs, in real communities, right now.
Consider what’s already underway.
Anduril’s planned hyperscale manufacturing facility in Columbus, the state’s largest single job-creation project in history, is reinforcing Ohio’s position as a leader in advanced technology and national security.
Honda’s electric vehicle and battery investments are anchoring the next generation of automotive manufacturing.
Major expansions in logistics, aerospace, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing are happening across the state, from Northwest Ohio to the Ohio River Valley.
These projects require tens of thousands of workers, not just on construction sites, but in permanent, high-quality jobs.
And those workers don’t exist in a vacuum.
They bring families, buy homes, enroll children in schools, and become part of our communities.
That is population growth driven by economic growth.
We’ve seen this story before.
States and regions that successfully attract large employers and invest in workforce development consistently outperform demographic projections that fail to account for migration.
Ohio is no exception, and in many ways, we are uniquely positioned to benefit from this moment.
Ohio offers affordability that coastal states can’t match, world-class higher education and training institutions, reliable energy and infrastructure, amenities that contribute to a vibrant culture and sense of community, and a quality of life that resonates with workers across the spectrum.
As companies look to reshore manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and invest in emerging technologies, Ohio checks the boxes they prioritize most.
Ohio’s economy is growing. Investment is accelerating. Jobs are being created. And people are moving here because of it.
If we stay focused on policies that support business growth, workforce readiness, infrastructure investment, innovation, and quality of life, Ohio will continue to attract talent from across the country.
Growth is not something that happens by accident; it’s the result of intentional choices.
Ohio is making those choices, and the results are already visible.
Ohio’s future is not one of decline.
It’s one of opportunity, and that becomes clear when we examine the full picture.
