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“What happened with Delphi and GM was a global economic crisis where automotive companies were divested,” said Chris Kershner, executive vice president of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. “We might have felt a little more pain than others because we had a lot of eggs in that basket.”
“Now I would say I’m very proud in our community has become very diverse in the industries we are investing in and which are growing,” he said.
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The second largest piece of the GRP pie is government operations, including Wright Patterson Air Force Base, which make up 15 percent, or $11. 1 billion of the GRP in the 14-county region which includes Auglaize, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Darke, Fayette, Greene, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby and Warren counties
Health care ranks third at 9 percent and local educators and companies are pushing to close the skills gap and fill those health care jobs.
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Demand for health care related degrees and certificates has been strong at Sinclair Community College and some programs have waiting lists, said Rene Shuchat, dean of health sciences.
“We know we are leading our students directly into jobs when they graduate,” Schuchat said. “And they are higher than average pay jobs.”
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