More than a 1.8+ million people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Columbus metro area’s $169+ billion economy. But have you ever wondered about the Capital City’s heaviest hitters?
Consider this Columbus Business 101 — your guide to our region’s 11 key industries and 10 major employers.
Note: The Columbus metro area is defined as Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union counties, according to local data.
This will be Intel’s first semiconductor facotry in the Midwest. | Rendering via Intel
The key industries
There are 11 key industries that represent Columbus, and no industry holds more than an 18% share of the market, based on data from the City of Columbus Economic Development Division. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.
Professional and Business Services | 18% or 324,000 employees
Of the 11 Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in the Columbus Region, five are also Fortune 500 companies. These businesses include Nationwide Insurance, AEP, and Hexion Inc.
Government | 16% or 288,000 employees
Since Columbus is the capital of Ohio, that means large government agencies, such as the State of Ohio, are headquartered here. The State of Ohio employs 21,000+ people, and adding to that are other agencies like the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Education and Health | 15% or 270,000 employees
While healthcare providers such as OhioHealth, Nationwide Children’s Hospital + Cardinal Health are major employers in this category, The Ohio State University leads the way for education with 47,000+ employees. Other community colleges and local schools, like Columbus State Community College and Columbus City Schools, add to these totals.
Retail and Trade | 11% or 198,000 employees
As one of the top retail cities in the country, Columbus is home to major brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Express, and Big Lots. Thanks to Columbus’ central location in the US, some of these retailers, such as Bath and Body Works Inc., are also some of the largest logistics companies in the city.
Leisure and Hospitality | 10% or 180,000 employees
While national brands like Hilton have grown in size thanks to recent developments, fast food chains like Wendy’s + White Castle started in Columbus and add to this sizable number. Additionally, Columbus Hospitality Management oversees multiple hotels in the city, including the Courtyard Marriott OSU and the Hyatt Place Columbus/Worthington.
Hilton’s newest highrise hotel is open in Columbus. | Photo via Hilton Columbus Downtown
Manufacturing | 8% or 144,000 employees
Manufacturing in Columbus comes in many different forms, but at the top of the list are Safelite, Whirlpool Corp., and DHL. Most recently, Intel announced it will build a $28 billion semiconductor factory bringing 10,000 jobs to central Ohio. Local players such as Worthington Industries continue to grow, and other international brands like Anheuser-Busch InBev also carry a large employment presence.
Financial Activities | 7% or 126,000 employees
JPMorgan Chase & Co. makes up a large chunk of this category as it employs 20,000+ people. And, if you know someone with a Huntington or Fifth Third bank account, that’s because these two financial agencies are both headquartered in Columbus.
Transportation and Utilities | 6% or 108,000 employees
John Glenn International Airport + Rickenbacker International Airport provide international and national transport for both people and cargo. Since 2018, CMH has flown 8.1+ million passengers, while Rickenbacker has transported 300+ million pounds of cargo.
A new $2+ billion terminal is planned for CMH. | Photo via Brand Columbus
Wholesale Trade | 4% or 72,000 employees
The Columbus region offers easy access to major national and global markets leading to logistics companies like XPO, UPS, and DHL having high employee counts. According to logistics data, Columbus is within a 10-hour drive of 46% of the US population.
Construction and Mining | 3% or 54,000 employees
Steward Construction Services LLC + Compton Construction LLC, based in Columbus, were two construction businesses cited for their fast growth in recent years.
Other Services | 3% or 54,000 employees
This encompasses all other businesses that don’t fit in the aforementioned categories, but combine to create a large employment base.
The major players
Now that we’ve established the major industries, we bet you’re curious for specific names. Whether you’re job hunting (or just “casually prospecting”), here are 10 major employers — all that employ more than 2,000 workers on average.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
17,480 employees | Financial Activities | Search jobs
As one of the oldest financial institutes in the US, JPMorgan Chase ranks in the top five on Fortune’s most attractive employer by business students. The firm also scored a 100 on the Disability Equality Index.
Nationwide
16,000 total employees | Business Services | Search jobs
Nationwide is one of the top local Fortune 1000 employers in the city as it can offer jobs through its insurance agency. This brand also has a wide reach throughout the city as it’s the namesake of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ home ice — Nationwide Arena.
Imagine walking into this lobby each day for work at JP Morgan Chase & Co.'s HQ. | Photo via JP Morgan Chase
Cardinal Health
8,660 total employees | Health Services | Search jobs
Headquartered in Dublin, this medical supply company is one of the biggest in its field in Ohio. Fortune ranked Cardinal the 14th largest pubically traded business in Ohio.
Huntington Bank
5,741 total employees | Financial Activities | Search jobs
Huntington offers jobs at both its various banks, as well as its headquarters right here in the city. The bank was founded in 1866 and has 1,000 branches in 11 states. It’s also the official bank for The Ohio State University.
American Electric Power (AEP)
4,500 total employees | Utilities | Search jobs
AEP provides electricity to hundreds of thousands of Columbistes every day, adding to its total of 5.5 million people served across 11 states. The company offers positions at its headquarters at 1 Riverside Plaza, or as electricians and technicians.
Huntington Bank is the namesake for the Columbus Clipper’s home park. | Photo via Columbus Clippers
Victoria’s Secret
4,500 total employees | Retail | Search jobs
This retailer rose to fame in the early 2000s thanks to its trendy takes on women’s underwear, lingerie, and activewear. It was previously in conjunction with Bath and Body Works under the L Brands, but they have since split into individual corporations.
Bath and Body Works
3,665 employees | Retail | Search jobs
Formerly known as L Brands, this Columbus-based retailer boasts numerous storefronts, distribution centers, and a headquarters in Reynoldsburg.
DHL
3,161 employees | Logistics | Search jobs
Join this fleet of delivery services that ensures 1.7+ billion parcels safely arrive at their destinations each year. This distribution mogul has been in the industry since 1969 when it was founded in San Francisco.
Bread Financial
3,086 employees | Finance | Search jobs
This tech-focused company was founded in 1983, providing services like loyalty programs and direct marketing to other businesses. It moved to CBUS in 2019 from Texas after being located in the Lone Star state for decades.
Abercrombie & Fitch
3,081 employees | Retail | Search jobs
This retailer features storefronts around Columbus + a massive campus in New Albany where its home office is located. Find jobs working the floor at stores, or helping coordinate next season’s hottest trends.
This information is derived from data published by the City of Columbus, One Columbus, and Fortune.
