Those of you who are moving to Dayton, Ohio at the behest of a contract manufacturing firm are lucky. You have one of the biggest stressors of moving to a new city taken care of for you: finding a job. The rest of us are resigned to resumes, job applications, and interviews. Since the unemployment rate in Dayton is quite high, just over 12%, this process can take weeks or even months, so it's always best to start looking before you even leave. Step one is reading an overview of the job market like this one.
Production and Sales
The three largest components of Dayton's economy are manufacturing, retail, and wholesale. A downturn in manufacturing hasn't wiped out the industry altogether, so if you have experience operating automated packaging systems there are still 1,500 firms, such as Delphi Automotive, Behr Paints, and General Motors, with factories in the area. Connected to manufacturing are the 254 wholesale traders and 473 retail stores in the city, many of which offer positions to unskilled or inexperienced job seekers.
Education
As manufacturing declines, education is on its way up. There have always been positions at public and private elementary and secondary schools for qualified teachers in Dayton, but the rise of private career colleges and the exploding popularity of university education has created job opportunities for instructors, administrators, and even maintenance personnel who can fix central heating boilers. Major post secondary schools include Wright State University and the University of Dayton.
Health Care
Another job sector on the rise in Dayton is health care. The seven hospitals in the area have been expanding their facilities for the past decade or so, cementing Dayton's role as a regional health care provider and creating more jobs in the industry. Health care jobs include traditional positions such as doctor and nurse, but you need not have years of training to have a career in the field. Hospitals and clinics often need cleaning staff, maintenance workers, orderlies, lab technicians, and administrators as well, so if you can clean a bed pan or install cable glands you could have a future here.
Technology and Aviation
Dayton's historical connection with flight has attracted the U.S. Air Force and its research and development wing, which is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. As the city's largest employer, thousands of military and municipal vehicles belonging to scientists, engineers, and airmen make the daily commute to the field. Computer and technology experts will also find job opportunities at the university-supported Miami Valley Research Park.
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