A new report from the Brookings Institution finds Columbus, listed among the top 54 metropolitan areas, has benefited from national economic growth, but that growth is not helping minorities as much.
The report from Brookings’ Metro Monitor examined the changes in regional economies between 2012 and 2022. Columbus ranked at the bottom for racially-inclusive growth based on employment, earnings and relative poverty gaps.
“Our data shows that Columbus ranked relatively low compared to other regions, and that economic outcomes are, by and large, becoming worse for workers of color and households living in low-income neighborhoods,” said Glencora Haskins, Senior Research Analyst and Applied Research Manager for Brookings Metro.
Of the 54 “very large” regions, with populations over 1 million, the report showed 45 (83%) posted gains throughout all three growth indicators (GDP, total employment and jobs at young firms) and outpaced the nation.
Haskins says while economic growth spread in the Midwest, it did not necessarily extend to workers in the region.
“It's also really just indicative of the stubborn nature of inequality,” said Haskins. “So, earnings can go up for people of color. That earnings rate can exceed that for white workers. But the existing earnings gap is so large and so pervasive that even with those gains, we can see inequality worsening.”
The report notes that while the pandemic, which began in 2020 in the U.S., brought a huge federal boost to the economy, it did not spread evenly.
“Racial inclusion has been getting worse over the last decade,” said Haskins. “And when we say outcomes for people of color, we do mean all non-white workers, including Hispanic workers.”
Haskins pointed out Columbus and central Ohio leaders are preparing for a high technology future.
"The last few years have shown that Columbus has a lot of potential for the future manufacturing of electric vehicles, batteries and semiconductors, which we know are high growth industries that can create high quality jobs,” said Haskins. “It will just be very important for the region to make sure that these opportunities are made accessible to everyone across demographic and social backgrounds as they emerge."
Haskins thinks it's important that leaders focus on making it easier for people from minority communities to access opportunities through community colleges, improved transportation and expanded affordable housing.
"That's going to require a lot of intentional regional leadership and dedicated resources, both for entrepreneurial ecosystem development, talent development and just ensuring that information is accessible and widely available to people of different races, classes and living in different neighborhoods," said Haskins.
