“Ohio workers and families have much to celebrate,” writes The Buckeye Institute in Crain’s Cleveland Business. “Despite the state and national unemployment rate climbing, the state’s economy continues to rise and overcome broader challenges by embracing new technologies and attracting new and growing firms. Policymakers have pursued pro-growth energy and tax reforms that make Ohio more attractive to employers and more rewarding to employees. More work remains to be done, but Ohio is still at the heart of it all.”
 

The Buckeye Institute commented on the newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “In a concerning sign, Ohio’s unemployment rate increased to five percent in July, and the labor force participation rate fell to 62.6 percent, indicating that Ohioans looking for work are not finding jobs. While the national job market is still performing better than Ohio’s, July’s national jobs report also saw a climbing unemployment rate and falling labor force participation rate.” 

Featuring: Rea Hederman, The Buckeye Institute; Melissa Landry, Pelican Institute for Public Policy; Russell Withers, Texas Conservative Caucus Research Institute; moderated by Josiah Neeley, R Street Institute.

In National Review, The Buckeye Institute applauds Ohio’s new flat income tax—the second-lowest in the country, writing, “A flat tax regime is well worth defending. Greater economic growth, higher productivity, and a more competitive and transparent tax code that helps voters hold their officials accountable are immediate benefits of flat tax systems. Ohio may be just the latest to jump on the bandwagon, but there are still plenty of seats available.”

The Buckeye Institute commented on the newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “In a positive sign, Ohio’s private-sector hiring surged in June, adding 11,600 new jobs, erasing the 6,300 job loss in May…Along with the positive signs, there is concern. Ohio lags the national average and needs to generate more job opportunities for Ohioans.”

The Buckeye Institute commented on the newly released jobs report, saying, “While Ohio’s unemployment rate and labor force participation rate remained flat in May, at 4.9 percent and 62.7 percent, respectively, Ohio private-sector employers lost 6,300 jobs, primarily in retail trade, hotel, and restaurant industries. Private-sector hiring in Ohio was strong through the first four months of 2025, and the May job loss is a step back, particularly as the nation added 140,000 private-sector jobs.”

The Buckeye Institute commented after the Ohio Senate passed House Bill 96—Ohio’s biennial budget, which now goes to the conference committee. “The Ohio Senate passed a pro-growth budget that includes tax reform, greater fiscal constraint, and the most robust local government reforms of any budget yet this century. While no budget is perfect, and there is more lawmakers can do to rein in the expansion of Medicaid and focus education funding on students first, this budget offers a positive blueprint for Ohio’s increasingly challenging economic times.”

The Buckeye Institute commented on the newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “Ohio’s private sector added 20,900 new jobs in April, easily offsetting the small, 2,500 downward revision to the March report. With April’s report, Ohio’s private sector employment is averaging 15,000 new jobs a month, indicating that businesses intend to hire at a strong clip in 2025.”

The Buckeye Institute commented after Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 15 into law. “With the signing of House Bill 15, Ohio is now a national leader in smart, free-market energy policy. While more work remains to ensure cost transparency and protect consumers from overpaying for costly infrastructure, The Buckeye Institute-championed policies are pro-consumer and pro-business—ending costly, uncompetitive subsidies, bringing back greater predictability in public utility rate cases, and incentivizing new energy development.”

Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, commented after the Ohio General Assembly passed Ohio House Bill 15. Once signed, the policies in the bill will help ensure a healthy supply of affordable, reliable energy to meet growing demand. The bill now goes to Governor DeWine for his signature. “The passage of Ohio House Bill 15 is the best news for Ohioans worried about affordable, reliable energy in more than a quarter of a century.”