Ohio data centers generated $9.1 billion in 2025, but industry faces voter backlash
COLUMBUS — The Ohio data center industry contributed approximately $9.1 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2025, according to a new report commissioned by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation. A research team led by SRC EvalMetrics President Saurav Roychoudhury found that the data center industry supported about 69,600 jobs through ongoing operations, construction, and related economic activity. Of those jobs, 14,257 are direct payroll jobs with the data center industry. However, only 1,100 to 1,800 payroll employees worked at the actual data center facilities. “The 14,257 direct jobs reported above measure employment in Ohio’s broader data-processing, hosting, and computing-infrastructure industry,” the report says. A total of 26,145 jobs were related to construction and equipment spending. Researchers expect data center companies to spend approximately $109 billion on construction and equipment from 2025 to 2030 — resulting in an average of 42,800 jobs per year. “There is a massive amount of investment,” Mr. Roychoudhury said. “This creates a huge construction wave.” Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said the data center industry has the potential to strengthen Ohio’s economy for years to come. “As we think about our economic future, we need to
