The Promise of Prosperity Doesn’t Just Belong to the Coasts Anymore

As major coastal metros face affordability crises, workforce shortages, and volatile growth, Cleveland is quietly staging one of the most important comebacks in America - this time through its people.

While tech talent and white-collar jobs have long dominated economic headlines, Cleveland is proving that prosperity can also be built, literally, by hand.

Welcome to Cleveland’s skilled trades renaissance.

From Rust Belt to Build Belt

Over the past decade, Cleveland has been shifting its identity from an industrial relic to a city of opportunity, especially for skilled trades. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, machinists, welders, and carpenters are seeing increasing demand thanks to:

• A manufacturing resurgence driven by Industry 4.0
• A historic wave of infrastructure investment
• Growth in commercial construction and clean energy sectors

According to Team NEO’s 2024 Aligning Opportunities report, skilled trade jobs rank among the highest in-demand roles in Northeast Ohio, with thousands of projected annual job openings in construction and manufacturing through 2030.

Why Cleveland? A Perfect Storm of Growth and Opportunity

Cleveland is uniquely positioned for this resurgence:

• Strong Industrial Backbone: Ohio ranks 3rd nationally in manufacturing employment and Cleveland plays a huge role, particularly in fabricated metals, automotive, and polymers.
• Massive Infrastructure Investment: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is expected to inject $11.3 billion into Ohio over 5 years, spurring demand for electricians, heavy equipment operators, pipefitters, and more.
• Affordable Cost of Living: With a median home price of $119,100, well below the national average, young workers can actually build a life here.
• Training Pipelines That Work: Organizations like Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland Builds are offering hands-on programs, apprenticeships, and pathways that remove traditional barriers to entry.

Real Impact: From Gig Work to Journeyman

In 2024, the City of Cleveland launched a $10 million workforce initiative to expand access to skilled trades training. One of its early success stories? James, a 27-year-old who had been juggling food delivery and temp work for years, until he found a pre-apprenticeship program and began his journey toward becoming a licensed electrician.

Now in his second year of apprenticeship, James is earning a livable wage with benefits, retirement savings, and a long-term career path.

He’s not an exception. He’s the blueprint.

The Ripple Effects: Why This Matters

What’s happening in Cleveland isn’t just good for one city, it’s a model for the country:

• Middle-class wage growth without four-year degrees
• Repopulating America’s shrinking skilled workforce
• Reducing barriers for underrepresented workers
• Sparking regional prosperity without relying on tech bubbles or corporate HQs

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ohio is currently missing more than 200,000 workers across all industries, with trade skills among the hardest to fill. Cleveland’s proactive efforts to build a local workforce pipeline are helping close that gap.

What Comes Next

Cleveland’s trades renaissance is still unfolding, but it’s already clear that this is more than a labor story. It’s a reinvention story.

As cities across the U.S. wrestle with economic identity, housing costs, and opportunity gaps, Cleveland offers a tangible path forward: Invest in skills. Rebuild infrastructure. Create ladders, not just lifelines.