Chamber Analysis Shows OSU Medical Center Leads Area ...( More than 15000 local jobs tied to p...),Health

More than 15,000 local jobs tied to patient care, research and teaching at

the Medical Center

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio State University Medical Center created 3,742 new jobs over the last six years accounting for nearly 50 percent of the region's net employment gains. At the same time seven of the area's Top 20 employers reduced jobs, says an economic impact report released today by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber study examined the central Ohio market's employment gains from March 2001 through March 2007. OSU's Medical Center, including OSU's hospitals, the College of Medicine and the research facilities, led area growth followed by retailer Wal-Mart (2,499 additional jobs) and JP Morgan Chase & Co. (2,404 additional jobs). The Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) used in the study includes eight counties: Franklin, Fairfield, Delaware, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union.

"These results reflect the strength of the health care sector overall in our local economy and OSU Medical Center's growth in both employment and research awards," says study director Bill LaFayette, Ph.D., vice president, economic analysis for the Columbus Chamber. "An additional 4,400 jobs are sustained in the local economy based on the impact of the Medical Center's growth."

LaFayette estimates in his study that the total impact of OSU's hospitals on the Columbus MSA economy could be in the $1.4 billion range annually, while the research activity accounts for about $400 million in economic impact.

The Top 20 area employers include four health care organizations. In addition to OSUMC, the study showed OhioHealth at No. 4 in market in job growth with 2,162 new positions and Children's Hospital 5th with 1,268 new jobs. Mt. Carmel Health, ranked 10th, added 423 positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the net change in the Columbus MSA employment over the time
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