Sandusky MSA Ranks Third in the Nation
Erie and Ottawa counties lead Ohio and Midwest in year-over-year employment growth
New employment data points to significant job growth across Erie and Ottawa counties during the first half of 2026.
An analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by our Greater Sandusky Partnership Policy Center found that the Sandusky Metropolitan Statistical Area ranked third among 393 U.S. metropolitan areas for year-over-year employment growth during the first half of 2026 — and first in both Ohio and the Midwest.
Average monthly employment in the Sandusky MSA, which includes Erie and Ottawa counties, increased from 51,067 during the first half of 2025 to 52,550 during the same period in 2026. That’s an increase of 1,483 jobs, or 2.9%.
“The instinct is to look for the one big project behind 1,483 additional jobs, but there isn’t one,” said Jeff Kerr, Director of Planning and Policy for Greater Sandusky Partnership. “It’s businesses across Erie and Ottawa counties adding positions a few at a time. Growth spread across many employers provides a stronger foundation than any single announcement.”
Sustained Growth Through the First Half of 2026
Sandusky MSA ranked among the top six metropolitan areas nationally for year-over-year employment growth every month from January through April, according to the GSP Policy Center analysis. Year-over-year employment remained positive through May and June.
“No metro in Ohio or the Midwest grew faster over this period,” Kerr said. “And this isn’t a single month that could be written off as an outlier. Six months of sustained growth points to a broader trend.”
Looking at the first six months together is particularly useful for understanding employment in the Sandusky MSA, where seasonal employment can significantly affect monthly totals. The Policy Center analysis compares average monthly employment from January through June 2026 with the same six-month period in 2025 rather than comparing employment at different points within the year.
The analysis also accounts for the Sandusky MSA’s smaller size. Among the 181 U.S. metropolitan areas with fewer than 100,000 jobs, Sandusky still ranked third for employment growth during the first half of 2026.
Independent Analysis Points to Sandusky's Strength
The BLS findings align with a recent regional economic analysis from PNC, which examined employment trends across Ohio metropolitan areas.
PNC Senior Economist Ershang Liang specifically highlighted Sandusky’s recent performance:
“On a year-over-year basis Sandusky has posted the strongest employment growth among Ohio metropolitan areas, with payroll employment rising 5% in June 2026, well above both the state’s 0.4% increase and the nation’s 0.3% gain.”
PNC’s analysis also points to factors supporting Ohio’s employment base, including outsized hiring in goods-producing industries and less downside pressure from federal government workforce reductions. The report notes employment strength across northern Ohio more broadly, including broad-based growth in the Cleveland metropolitan area.
This context is particularly relevant locally. As Greater Sandusky Partnership recently highlighted in the Sandusky Register, manufacturing remains Erie County’s largest economic sector, with a diverse base of manufacturers continuing to employ thousands of people and invest in the region.
“Employment growth in a region like ours can easily be read as seasonal hiring, but that’s only part of the economic picture,” Kerr said. “Manufacturing remains Erie County’s largest sector by output, and its composition has changed significantly over the past two decades. Nondurable goods now account for 68% of manufacturing output, compared with 30% in 2001. That’s a different economic base than many people may picture.”
The PNC analysis measures June 2026 employment compared with June 2025, while the GSP Policy Center analysis averages employment across the entire first half of both years. Together, they provide different views of the strength seen in Sandusky’s job market.
Growing in the Nation's Top State for Business
The regional employment data comes as Ohio receives national recognition for its overall business climate.
In July, CNBC named Ohio the No. 1 state in its 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings.
That creates a notable combination: the Sandusky MSA currently leads metropolitan areas in the nation’s top-ranked state for business in year-over-year employment growth.
Employment rankings are only one measure of the health of a regional economy, and percentage changes can be more pronounced in smaller metropolitan areas like Sandusky than in larger markets. Still, the sustained growth throughout the first half of 2026, alongside independent analysis identifying Sandusky as Ohio’s strongest-growing metro, provides an encouraging indicator of economic momentum across Erie and Ottawa counties.
Greater Sandusky Partnership and its partners will continue working with employers and communities across the region to support business retention and expansion, attract investment, strengthen the workforce and advance the region’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Read the Full Analysis by Greater Sandusky Partnership’s Policy Center
