Over the past two years, Ohio saw a 6% decline in college enrollment – the steepest drop among Midwest states. Pennsylvania fell 3%, Michigan 2%.

Team NEO’s annual “Aligning Opportunities” report makes the trend clear: High school students are increasingly bypassing traditional college pathways in favor of alternative training programs and career options. However, many of these choices do not align with local workforce demands, exacerbating challenges posed by Ohio’s aging population and contributing to mismatches between student career interests and regional economic priorities.

The question isn’t whether to reverse this trend – it’s how we adapt by building career pathways that keep young talent here and give employers the skilled workforce they need. Waiting until high school graduati

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