Report: Bioscience Industry Thriving in OH

According to an industry report from BioOhio, the bioscience industry is thriving throughout Ohio.

At least 1,280 bioscience-related organizations are either manufacturing products, providing essential services, or researching the next breakthrough.

Ranging from the large and well known—like Battelle, Steris, Abbott Nutrition, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery—to the young and growing—like Cleveland HeartLab, AssureRx, Riverain Medical, and MID—Ohio bioscience firms employ 60,600 workers. Since 2000, Ohio bioscience employment increased 16.5% (8,574 jobs), while overall employment in Ohio declined.

Ohio’s bioscience industry generated $4.58 billion of payroll in 2011, a 31% ($1.08 billion) increase since 2000. Bioscience sector jobs in Ohio paid an average wage of $75,523, encompassing a wide variety of occupa¬tions, not just scientists and executives. In comparison, the average wage for all industries in Ohio in 2011 was $42,588.

Ohio’s bioscience sector in 2011 included 1,281 distinct firms operating 1,743 locations, an increase of
441 (33.9%) since 2000. Almost 70% of Ohio’s bioscience businesses fit into two subsectors: Medical & Testing Laboratories (618 locations) and Medical Device & Equipment Manufacturers (585).

The bioscience industry’s economic impact is felt throughout the state, with bioscience-related companies found in 73 of 88 Ohio counties. Anchored by Cleveland and Akron, northeast Ohio led the state in number of bioscience locations with 42% of the total in 2011. The central and southwest regions followed with 319 (18%) and 288 (17%), respectively.

Since 2000, all six Ohio regions have added bioscience locations.

Between 2005 and July 2012, 308 bioscience companies have either expanded operations or announced new facilities in the state. Global brands like Philips Healthcare, Steris, NAMSA, PharmaForce, and Medpace are examples of companies that have completed expansions in the past two years.

You can read the full report from BioOhio here.