ohio

Ohio has long been a hub for manufacturing, and this is again the case thanks to public policy.

The manufacturing sector grew by an impressive 22% in 2022 and an even more impressive 45% in 2023, followed by a comparatively modest 20% in 2024. The largest projects here are things like data centers and a factory for semiconductors outside of Columbus. Residential spending remains comparatively small here, thanks to the state’s largely stable population. Residential projects are mainly mixed-use projects in urban centers like Columbus or Cincinnati, as young professionals prefer to live in dense walkable cities.

Much of the state’s infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life, which has been a key provision of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Public spending has been a key part of modernizing the state’s roads, bridges, and transit networks.

Overall spending in Ohio has grown by about 35% over the last ten years, while the labor force has only grown by about 23% over the same period. This has pushed labor costs up, and caused a greater share of a project’s cost to be paid upfront.

* Other structures include religious buildings, amusement, government communications, and public recreation projects.