The state launched a new online education and career resource, the Ohio Career Navigator, on Tuesday.
When Ohioans complete a survey on the now live site hosted by Ohio Means Jobs, they will be connected to public and private sector resources tailored to their education and career goals. The survey and navigator are available at ohiomeansjobs.com.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced the tool at a meeting of the Governor's Executive Staff Committee in Westerville. The board has more than 30 members, ranging from elected officials to union leaders, business executives and educational leaders. The program was created by former Gov. John Kasich in 2012 and renewed by Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday.
Husted said the Ohio Career Navigator provides a centralized site for career preparation and advancement.
“Just as GPS can guide you to a destination, GPS can guide you on how to find a career that's right for you,” he said after the conference.
It stems from recommendations by the Ohio Business Roundtable, he said.
Husted told the Executive Personnel Committee that there are currently two jobs for every Ohioan.
“The bottom line is, right now, there are more jobs than there are people to fill them,” he said. “But there are barriers that get people from where they are to where they want to go, and in many cases these can be qualifications that can be earned in a matter of weeks.”
But Husted said the biggest strain on the state's workforce is the lack of access to child care, including affordable child care. He said he is encouraging more businesses around Ohio to offer on-site child care.
About two weeks ago, the state launched the Nursing Home Quality Navigator, an online database that indexes federal and state data on hundreds of long-term care facilities in Ohio. It aims to centralize data and resources publicly as well.
