Columbus employment opportunities abound in the 15th largest city in the United States. Founded almost 200 years ago, the capital of Ohio still retains its charm and uniqueness and combines a relaxed Midwest lifestyle with a booming economic environment. One of the All America City award winners in 2006, this major metropolis is home to one of the largest insurance companies in the world and offers the prospective resident a large pool of assorted and attractive Columbus employment picks in a setting that’s vibrant and thriving.
Employment
One of the unique aspects about Columbus employment is that there are varied arrays of choices available to the job seeker. Options range from Construction & Mining to Financial Services, with several of the world’s leading companies in each industrial segment having their presence in Columbus.
Diversified as the employment categories are, the top employing sectors are Government (17%), Professional and Business Services (17%) and Education & Health (12%). This has been the trend for over 20 years.
There’s a reassuring observation to be made from this data: these areas offer traditionally low-risk, stable and relatively recession-proof Columbus employment. The Education & Health sector, defying patterns of the global economic recession, has seen a 3% annual increase in labor workforce in Feb 2009. The Ohio State University, the state’s second largest employer, has over 20,000 full-time employees and is a significant contributor to this category’s resilience.
The Health sector has an important presence in the Columbus employment pool. Several health care companies, including Fortune 500 corporations like Cardinal Health and Medco Health Solutions have over 30,000 employees in the Columbus metropolitan area.
The government, being the largest employer in the state, retains over 60,000 people through a variety of agencies – The State of Ohio, The Ohio State University, The Defense Supply, Accounting and Finance Center and The City of Columbus being amongst the top employers in the Columbus employment sector.
One of the largest insurance and financial corporations in the world, Nationwide Mutual Insurance, is headquartered in downtown Columbus. With over 10,000 employees in an assortment of positions ranging from Information Technology to Investment Banking, this insurance giant has had a presence in the Columbus employment arena for over 80 years.
In the year 2002, Columbus had a 3.6% lead in per capita income compared to the average for the United States. Combined with a relatively low unemployment rate of 7.6%, Columbus employment opportunities are both plentiful and rewarding.
Employment Resources
Finding a dream job is made especially easy with the help of several resources that are available to the prospective job seeker, including the presence of highly esteemed Columbus employment agencies.
The City of Columbus, which employs over 9000 people, has an extremely informative and useful website detailing all aspects of the job search, including open job listings and a Columbus employment information guide. More details are at https://csc.columbus.gov/webapp/
http://columbus.employmentguide.com/ is another helpful website that lists jobs by sector. It has an extensive list of jobs categorized by leading industries.
Columbus State Community College has a Center for Workforce Development that offers professional training programs for those seeking to further their career development skills in a variety of Columbus employment areas, ranging from Computers to Pharmacy training. http://cscc.edu/Workforce/individuals.html provides detailed information.
There are several reputable employment agencies with offices in Columbus. These agencies offer a complete range of services including connecting prospective employees with employers, interview counseling, career advice and a wealth of information designed not only to help job seekers get the perfect job in the Columbus employment domain but also to help them prosper and grow in their professional career.
Some of the major Columbus employment agencies include:
General Employment Inc. – http://www.generalemployment.com/index.htm
Adecco – http://www.adeccousa.com/pages/welcome.aspx
Spherion – http://www.spherion.com/
Standard of living
There are plenty of lucrative Columbus employment opportunities available but Columbus isn’t just all about work. To support and enrich its growing and diverse population, it boasts a superior standard of living. With a cost-of-living index of 94 and an affordability rank of 37 amongst 222 metropolitan cities, it provides sustainable living options for everyone.
It offers the prospective dweller a range of housing alternatives to choose from: chic urban living in apartment lofts in downtown Arena district, vibrant Clintonville with its close proximity to The Ohio State University, quiet and peaceful Grove City lying within minutes of downtown – there’s something for all tastes and budgets.
Columbus has the distinction of ranking 2nd in the nation when it comes to the number of colleges and universities based here. Excellent public schools in neighborhoods like Bexley, Worthington and Dublin provide top-ranked education from grades K through 12. World-renowned universities like The Ohio State University continue that tradition with over 50,000 students enrolled in a diverse range of programs at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Columbus offers myriad recreational opportunities as well. The world-renowned Columbus Jazz Orchestra was established here over thirty years ago and continues to enthrall audiences with jazz concerts at the beautifully renovated Southern Theatre. Enjoy a pre-concert dinner at one of the many restaurants dotting Third Street in historic German Village.
Or, plan a leisurely trip to the Franklin Park Conservatory, conveniently nestled within 2 miles of downtown Columbus and stroll through their extensive horticultural selection, including the renowned Blooms and Butterflies annual exhibition.
Columbus leads the list when it comes to health. It is home to four nationally-acclaimed hospitals that have been included in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report lists over the past years. And this top-notch health care doesn’t necessarily come with an expensive price tag – a 2006 survey rated the Columbus health care cost index as being 4 points below the national average.
Conclusion
With an abundance of resources and opportunities, Columbus provides several choices for fulfilling and productive careers spanning a huge range of economic sectors. Especially in tough financial periods like the current one, Columbus, with its broad array of diverse employment options, is a particularly attractive destination for the prospective job seeker.
With its affordable and vibrant neighborhoods, excellent schools, top-rated health care and a plethora of recreational options suited for every taste, Columbus employment is not just another option – it’s the best choice.
