May 9, 2025

The Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s Center for Research & Data, in partnership with the City of Cincinnati's Office of Environment and Sustainability and Co-op Cincy, has released a groundbreaking green workforce landscape analysis report entitled “Cincinnati Green Workforce Landscape Analysis”. This comprehensive study offers an in-depth exploration of green jobs in the Greater Cincinnati region, projecting job creation, economic impact, and the workforce needed to support sustainability efforts in line with the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan. 

Commissioned by Co-op Cincy, the report aims to provide a clear view of the region’s green jobs landscape, with a particular focus on job quality, education, skills, work experience, gaps, and workforce barriers. “This report clarifies that our region has a major opportunity to lead in the green economy,” said Kristen Barker, Co-Founder, Co-op Cincy. “To ensure this transition benefits everyone, we must invest in the people powering it—through accessible training, strong career pathways, family-sustaining wages and benefits, and broader business ownership.” 

The Chamber’s Center for Research and Data analyzed 799 occupations, identifying 114 roles within the Cincinnati Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) that are aligned with the green economy. The analysis incorporates detailed occupation data, surveys by Co-op Cincy, and community engagement and workforce system insights provided by the Office of Environment and Sustainability. The combined efforts of these three organizations culminated in a set of actionable recommendations tailored to businesses, educators, and government agencies. “The data is clear - investing in Cincinnati’s green economy isn’t just good for the planet, it’s a smart economic strategy,” said Brandon Rudd, Director of the Center for Research and Data at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. “Our analysis shows the potential to generate up to 44,000 jobs and inject $11 billion into the regional economy. These are real opportunities for our business community and region to lead, grow, and thrive in a changing world.” said Brandon Rudd, Center of Research and Data Director, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.  

The City of Cincinnati provided a grant match to Co-op Cincy to co-fund this report. “This report is a foundational piece for strategically developing and supporting green training programs that create meaningful economic opportunities for Cincinnati residents,” said Thanapat Vichitchot, FUSE Executive Fellow, who is leading Green Workforce initiatives on behalf of the City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment & Sustainability. Oliver Kroner, Director of OES, is proud to partner with Co-op Cincy and the Chamber on this initiative. “Creating quality, green jobs was a primary cross-cutting theme during the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan community engagement process,” said Kroner. “This report is a milestone for Green Workforce Development in Cincinnati. “ 

To access the full report or for more information on its findings, please visit data.cincinnatichamber.com, or contact Brandon Rudd, Director of the Center for Research & Data, at brudd@cincinnatichamber.com or 513-579-3176. To request a presentation of the findings following release, please contact Brandon.