Cincinnati, Ohio (August 27, 2025) – The Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s Workforce Innovation Center has today released its second Gen Z in the Workforce in the Cincinnati Region white paper. Presented by Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, with support from Gateway Community and Technical College as Excellence Sponsor and Great Oaks Career Campuses as Training Partner Sponsor, the report spotlights Gen Z individuals who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs), meaning those choosing education and career pathways outside the four-year college degree.
This research builds on the Chamber’s October 2024 white paper, which focused on Gen Z pursuing or holding bachelor’s degrees. The new report highlights employment gaps among this population, presents career-building opportunities that do not require four-year degrees, and offers actionable insights for employers seeking to engage this growing and skilled talent pool through a skills-first hiring ethos.
Nationally, an estimated 70 million STARs have built their skills through community colleges, apprenticeships, military service, credentials, and on-the-job training. Locally, the majority of jobs in the Cincinnati Region do not require a four-year degree, creating ample opportunities for Gen Z STARs. As a result, this population represents a powerful segment of the workforce, eager to apply their skills in high-demand industries and contribute to the Cincinnati region’s growth.
“The Cincinnati Chamber’s mission is to create a growing, thriving region where everyone belongs, and both the Gen Z and STARs populations are essential to that vision,” said Brendon Cull, President & CEO of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. “This generation represents a growing share of our region’s workforce, and our community offers plentiful opportunities for STARs to succeed in the workplace and build their lives here, contributing to our region’s growth.”
The report combines data from the Chamber’s Center for Research and Data with focus groups and surveys of Gen Z STARs. Key insights include:
- Gen Z comprises approximately 21% of the Cincinnati region’s population and 56% of them are college/university-age or employment age
- Gen Z is more diverse, racially and ethnically, than previous generations with nearly a third of this population identifying as a racial or ethnic minority.
- In the workplace, Gen Z STARs value transparent communication, growth opportunities, flexibility, and mentorship.
- Cincinnati appeals to STARs for its relative affordability, cultural vibrancy, sense of community, and growing industries like healthcare and manufacturing.
- The Cincinnati region successfully retains the majority of associate degree holders graduating from local programs
“Our region has an abundance of Gen Z individuals who have earned certificates, credentials, or associate degrees, as well as those who bring relevant skills from military service or prior work experience,” said Audrey Treasure, Vice President & Executive Director of the Workforce Innovation Center. “These individuals are motivated to succeed and bring valuable perspectives to the workplace. Employers who understand how to hire and retain them will strengthen their organizations for the future.”
“Cincinnati State is delighted to support the great work of the Workforce Innovation Center as they shine a light on the crucial role of ‘alternative’ pathways to technical skills. A well-trained local workforce and economic growth depend upon it,” said Robbin Hoopes, provost at Cincinnati State. “Cincinnati State is fully focused upon meeting the needs of the modern workplace and lowering the cost of a high-skilled workforce – providing alternative pathways to high-tech, in-demand jobs right here in Cincinnati via tech certificates and tech degrees.”
The Workforce Innovation Center supports employers in creating vibrant workplace cultures through tools such as the Employee Survey: Life Dimensions Assessment, customized employee focus groups, and workplace policy recommendations tailored to today’s workforce.
To download the report, visit workforceinnovationcenter.com.
##
About the Cincinnati Regional Chamber
The Cincinnati Regional Chamber is the premier business and civic organization dedicated to growing the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the Cincinnati region. To achieve its vision that Cincinnati is a growing, thriving region where everyone belongs, the Chamber seeks to grow our economy, grow our population, and grow our cultural vibrancy – with the foundation of a strong business community – to foster a welcoming environment for all. The Chamber’s membership offerings, signature leadership programs, government and regional advocacy efforts, community events such as BLINK and Oktoberfest as well as key partnerships with organizations like Cincinnati Experience, Cincinnati Compass, Cincinnati Minority Business Accelerator, and the Workforce Innovation Center lead the way in making that vision a reality.
About the Workforce Innovation Center
The Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber is a talent consulting practice that creates mutually beneficial solutions with positive outcomes for both employers and employees. Our approach addresses employers’ most pressing workforce and human resources-related needs that enable them to make data-driven decisions about how to best attract, retain, engage and advance employees. Our offerings include consulting services, a career board and benefits/perks page, partnership with more than 80 workforce and talent organizations in the region, and the Women of Color in Tech initiative. The Workforce Innovation Center’s mission is to drive companies to adopt inclusive practices that empower employees and fuel businesses, enabling communities to thrive and our vision is that the Cincinnati region is a beacon of inclusion and engagement for employees resulting in long-term financial success, innovation and sustainability for its employers, and thereby, the community. For more information, visit www.workforceinnovationcenter.com.
Media Contacts:
Amy Fitzgibbons, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Cincinnati Regional Chamber afitzgibbons@cincinnatichamber.com | 513.579.3106
Audrey Treasure, VP & Executive Director, Workforce Innovation Center
atreasure@cincinnatichamber.com | 513.686.2946