JobsOhio Relocation Incentive

JobsOhio Relocation Incentive is sponsored by JobsOhio. Offers incentives to Ohio employers in targeted industries for relocating out-of-state STEM or technical hires to Ohio.

JobsOhio Relocation Incentive | JobsOhio JobsOhio Relocation Incentive Grow Your Team. Grow Ohio. An incentive for companies that bring STEM and technical talent into the state.

JobsOhio Relocation Incentive JobsOhio Relocation Incentive Ohio's STEM and technical talent helps propel companies’ growth and success, but access to a steady talent pipeline can be a challenge for employers nationwide.

The JobsOhio Relocation Incentive helps Ohio employers of any size in ten critical sectors expand their workforce, specifically in STEM and technical occupations, with direct financial incentives for attracting out-of-state professionals. Note: The online application must be completed in a single session – it cannot be saved and completed later. Learn more in our FAQ section .

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First-come, first-served: Up to $225,000 total (15 hires) per company until program funds are depleted. No strings attached: Direct payment of funds to your company with no restrictions on specific eligible costs. Employers of all sizes: Dedicated funding for companies of all sizes to ensure any employer can participate.

To qualify for the incentive, employers must meet all following criteria: Do business as an Ohio-based employer in one of JobsOhio’s targeted industries . Hire full-time employee in STEM and technical occupation (1099 contractors do not qualify). Provide the number of relocated STEM and technical hires for three prior calendar years to establish an annual baseline relocation number.

New full-time STEM or technical employees whose roles align with JobsOhio priority occupations may qualify an employer for the incentive when they relocate to Ohio from out of state and establish residency. Qualify: Employer completes and submits the short online application. JobsOhio will review and communicate eligibility to the employer.

Hire & relocate: The employee moves to Ohio and begins employment. Request disbursement: Employer submits request for incentive, validating successful out-of-state hire and relocation. Receive funds: JobsOhio provides an incentive payment to the employer; employer may apply and receive funding for multiple qualified hires, above established baseline, until the employer reaches the maximum or incentive funds are depleted.

Recruiting out-of-state talent? Download our best practices guide. Relocation Incentive FAQs Getting started with your application: What do I need to have ready before I apply?

To complete the JobsOhio Relocation Incentive application, the company representative who completes and submits the online form will need the following: Basic company details: Legal name, federal tax ID, business type, state of incorporation and Ohio location Industry and business description: Your primary industry, NAICS code, and a summary of your products/services Relocation history baseline: Number of out-of-state new hires relocated to Ohio over the past three years in JobsOhio priority occupations Legal, regulatory and financial standing: Attestation that your company is in good standing Key contacts: Name and contact information for the person completing the application and the person authorized to sign the legal agreement How long will it take to complete the application process?

It should take a company representative with all the gathered required information and data less than 30 minutes to complete. The application must be completed in one session . Once you begin the application, you cannot save it and return to finish it later.

Can I save my application as I complete it and return to finish it? You’ll need to complete the application in one session – unfortunately, it’s not possible to save it and come back to it later. That’s why we recommend gathering all your information first!

Where should I submit my complete application? All applications must be submitted through our online form –we’ve made the online process as simple as possible but in case you need assistance, please contact us at JORI@jobsohio. com .

Qualifying as a JobsOhio targeted industry: I'm not sure what my company's NAICS code is. Why is this important? A NAICS code is a 6-digit number that describes what your company does.

NAICS codes are part of a national system used by government agencies that standardizes business classifications by industry. JobsOhio requires your company’s primary NAICS code to confirm that your business operates within our ten targeted industry sectors: Financial Services and Insurtech Logistics and Distribution How do I find my company's NAICS code?

To find your company’s NAICS code, consult the government’s official NAICS site online and search by keyword in the box on the left side of the page. Or, you may find your company’s primary NAICS code on several tax forms, including Form 1120 (for C-Corps), Form 1120-S (for S-Corps), Form 1065 (for partnerships), Schedule C (for sole proprietors), and Form 990 (for nonprofits).

Making sure your new hires qualify: How do I know if my company's new hire qualifies for the relocation incentive?

New hires meet eligibility requirements for the Relocation Incentive when they: Fill a STEM or technical position that aligns with JobsOhio priority occupations, Represent a new hire above your normal out-of-state hiring baseline (calculated from average out-of-state STEM or technical hires in JobsOhio priority occupations for the last three full calendar years), Commence working at your company; and, Intend to establish permanent residence in Ohio.

Are there U.S. work eligibility requirements? Yes. In order to be eligible, the individual must be authorized to work in the United States, on a permanent basis, without a sponsorship.

Is there a minimum distance a new hire must move to be eligible? No, eligibility requirements for the Relocation Incentive do not specify a minimum distance a new hire must move. New hires are eligible if they were previously non-Ohio residents and establish permanent residence in Ohio.

How did JobsOhio determine the priority occupations? JobsOhio identified high-demand, yet under supplied, occupations vital for Ohio’s economic development and industry growth using a combination of quantitative and qualitative criteria. These include, but are not limited to, sectors with high employment, employers expressing high demand across regions, employment growth forecasts, and median wages.

The new hire who has relocated has a job title that doesn't match the list of priority occupations, but I'm certain that it qualifies. We recognize job titles vary, so we focus on job function to determine if the role aligns with a JobsOhio priority occupation.

To help you verify the most appropriate occupation for the job function the new hire performs, we recommend consulting the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET database , where you can find the closest matching occupation and corresponding SOC code by entering the job title or responsibilities. Do newly hired recent college graduates qualify for the relocation incentive? Yes!

Students attending Ohio institutions who are non-Ohio residents at the time of attendance qualify. Ohio residents attending college outside Ohio do not qualify – we consider them in-state hires. Do newly hired transitioning military service members qualify for the relocation incentives?

Yes. Transitioning service members qualify if they were stationed outside Ohio at the time of separation, regardless of their permanent residency. Service members stationed in Ohio with a residency outside Ohio are also eligible.

Only transitioning military members stationed in Ohio with Ohio residency at the time of separation do not qualify. This approach reflects Ohio’s commitment to being the top state for military and federal missions, their workforce, families, and industry partners. Can we request incentives for new hires made earlier this year?

Yes. The JobsOhio Relocation Incentive allows retroactive eligibility within the calendar year of your application. For example, if your company applies in September 2026, you may include all qualifying out-of-state hires made since January 1, 2026: Do employee transfers or internal moves count toward the baseline or qualify for the relocation incentive?

No. Only new company hires are eligible for baseline calculations and incentive payments. Transfers do not count. Moves from one of your company’s facilities outside Ohio to an Ohio location are not considered new hires.

Employees moving from an affiliated company or subsidiary into your Ohio operations are also ineligible. An eligible hire must be a new addition to your organization’s workforce—someone who was not previously employed by your company or any of its affiliates before relocating to Ohio. Understanding out-of-state hiring baseline: What does it mean to set a company "baseline" for relocation hiring?

Why require this? Great question! The baseline is simply your company’s typical pattern of out-of-state hiring within JobsOhio priority occupations .

Above that baseline, JobsOhio will award $15,000 for every out-of-state STEM or technical hire your company relocates, which advances JobsOhio’s mission to grow Ohio’s STEM and technical workforce. How baseline factors into your application: Review your company’s out-of-state STEM and technical hiring within JobsOhio priority occupations over the prior three full calendar years. Supply this information in your company’s application.

The average of the three-year total – for out-of-state STEM or technical hires in JobsOhio priority occupations – establishes your company’s baseline, which JobsOhio will use to determine Relocation Incentive awards. Why we require a baseline: We designed the JobsOhio Relocation Incentive to encourage additional hiring, not to reward past practices.

By setting a baseline, JobsOhio can apply incentives only to out-of-state hires above a company’s historical norm. This approach helps accomplish the program’s goal to expand Ohio’s STEM and technical talent pool, rather than incentivizing current business practices. Awarding Relocation Incentive funds: What does "first-come, first-served" mean for the relocation incentive?

The JobsOhio Relocation Incentive application is always-on, but incentive payments are awarded in the order that disbursement requests are received—not the date you apply. Apply anytime. Companies can submit an application whenever they are ready.

Enter an agreement. Once approved, you’ll enter a legal agreement with JobsOhio. Request a disbursement.

You may request incentive payment only after a qualifying hire has: Started full-time work, and Established permanent Ohio residency. With funds disbursed on a "first-come, first-served" basis how will I know if funds run out?

JobsOhio is committed to transparency thus at a minimum JobsOhio will as part of the Relocation Incentive Agreement notify Companies within 30 days of funds being 90% depleted from the pertinent business size bucket and/or from the overall program. How long will it take to receive incentive funds upon submitting proof of a qualifying new hire? JobsOhio aims to respond to requests within a reasonable timeframe.

To the extent the Company’s disbursement request and supporting materials are sufficient this process should generally take around 30 days. Are there restrictions on how my company uses incentive funds? There are no strings attached – be creative – the funds are a company’s to use as the company sees fit!

JobsOhio does not restrict Incentive award funds to specific purposes or expenditures.

Employers may choose to direct the funds to a range of purposes, including investments that help expand out-of-state hiring within JobsOhio priority occupations above their baselines such as relocation benefits or signing bonuses for new out-of-state hires, recruitment marketing efforts, or recruitment and talent sourcing activities in out-of-state markets, among others. What is the maximum total incentive amount my company can receive?

The maximum total award amount a single company can receive is $225,000 over the life of the program. JobsOhio will disburse approved incentive payments until the program funds are depleted. Is there an employee retention period required before my company can request the incentive disbursement?

We want to keep it simple for employers to help us grow Ohio’s labor pool. That means, no, we do not require a minimum retention period. You may submit your Incentive disbursement request as soon as a new hire relocates, establishes Ohio residency, and starts work.

After doing the work to recruit them it is in the best interest of the employer to retain the talent they hired from out of state. According to Census data, a significant majority of job changers in recent years have stayed in the same state, so we can expect the people who relocate to Ohio to remain here. Minimal barriers for employers.

We want employers to put funds to work quickly for out-of-state hiring where they make the biggest impact for your company – signing bonuses, onboarding, or additional recruiting – without extra monitoring or paperwork. Focus on results. Our goal to grow Ohio’s STEM and technical talent pool relies on hiring, not reporting.

Staying lean can only expand opportunities to attract and retain talent. Finding resources and support for out-of-state hiring: What kind of resources will be available to my company for support? To help communicate the benefits of living and working in Ohio, we encourage you to review this relocation guide resource and share it with your recruiting team and prospective candidates.

And find top candidates with Find Your Ohio our national talent attraction program that connects impressive, out-of-state candidates with exciting roles at Ohio companies. The user-friendly database allows you to search for candidates based on your unique criteria, download resumes, and keep track of those you contact and interview, all in one location. What if I have questions that I don't see addressed here?

Do you still have questions? We’re here to help! Email us at jori@jobsohio.

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