Innovative Industries Thriving in Cleveland

By Douglas J. Guth, Lisa Galek

The Land is on an unstoppable growth spree with a staggering 109,000 diverse companies and over 2 million skilled workers. From tech nerds to healthcare heroes, our local businesses are proving they're the Beyoncé of their industries: constantly reinventing and always leading the pack. These standout companies are just a glimpse of what makes Cleveland a thriving hub of innovation and a land of opportunity for all.

Advanced Manufacturing

Northeast Ohio has made significant strides in advanced manufacturing thanks to innovative technologies and the ongoing growth of area job creators. About 10,000 regional smart manufacturing positions have been created in the last two years, fueled by booming sectors, including biomedical devices and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). And the wins just keep on coming: Nottingham Spirk recently opened an innovation center at its University Circle facility in partnership with Ernst & Young. In addition, paint and coatings giant Sherwin-Williams grew its Greater Cleveland office employment by 20 percent, while rolled steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs expanded its reach by acquiring AK Steel and ArcelorMittal USA.

Health Care

Cleveland is a bona fide healthcare hub, boasting the nation's most concentrated area of hospitals and medical research centers. Healthcare systems such as Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals also double as the city’s largest employers, with a combined local workforce of more than 49,000 people. Both healthcare systems are at the top of their game — with Cleveland Clinic ranked #2 on Newsweek’s “World’s Best Hospitals” list for six years running and University Hospitals having recently launched its Haslam Sports Innovation Center with the aim of becoming the country’s top destination for sports medicine.

Aerospace & Aviation

Northeast Ohio’s aviation industry is a $3.2 billion powerhouse — leading the way in aerospace design, engineering and production. NASA’s Glenn Research Center stands out, thanks to extensive space simulation facilities like wind tunnels and vacuum chambers. Close to Glenn’s campus, UK-based company Blue Abyss is constructing a cutting-edge extreme environment research and training center for deep sea and space exploration (complete with a hotel). With both located near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, I-X Center and leading universities and hospitals, this area represents a bustling hub for aerospace innovation.

Tech Hub

Move over, Silicon Valley: the Rust Belt’s fast become a hub for all things innovation. In 2020, Cleveland was ranked #2 in the U.S. with a 19.9% inflow of tech talent, and according to Team NEO, Cleveland has more tech jobs at 58,000 than either Columbus or Pittsburgh. Many of those jobs are based Downtown, where a growing cluster of tech-focused companies includes BrandMuscle, Robot & Pencils and LeanDog. Locally headquartered companies such as Hyland Software and OverDrive are also part of that growth, including Park Place Technologies with its new Mayfield Heights-based headquarters that will house 500 employees.

For more information about Cleveland’s job opportunities and employers, click here.