As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session S. R. No. 447

2025-2026

Senator Blessing

A R E S O L U T I O N

To recognize the contributions of immigrants and refugees and to urge federal action to address Ohio's workforce shortages.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

WHEREAS, According to the American Immigration Council, in 2023, immigrants in Ohio contributed $7.3 billion in combined federal, state, and local taxes and possessed an estimated $20 billion in spending power that stimulated local economies and substantially contributed to the state economy; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants and refugees continue to play a vital and indispensable role in Ohio. The Council found that immigrants represented 5.1% of Ohio's workforce in 2023, including 7.6% of workers in Ohio's manufacturing sector and 8.2% of Ohio's entrepreneurs, who have generated over one billion dollars in business income and seven of which have founded Fortune 500 companies; and

WHEREAS, Ohio's immigrant population helps to form the backbone of the state's workforce in key industries by disproportionately filling roles central to the success of Ohio's economy. The Council reported that from 2015 to 2019 immigrants made up 23.1% of Ohio's postsecondary teachers, 13.6% of home health and personal care aides, and 13.1% of nurse practitioners; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2024 report by the Council, 42.5% of meat processing jobs and 30.8% of handpacker jobs were filled by immigrants in the Great Lakes region alone; and

WHEREAS, The Immigration Research Initiative reported in 2024 that 15% of Ohio's main street business owners were immigrants; and

WHEREAS, Ohio is currently facing significant labor demand and workforce shortages across a variety of sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture, threatening the ability of Ohio businesses to grow and compete; and

WHEREAS, In December 2025, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 278,000 jobs were unfilled in Ohio; and

WHEREAS, World Education Services found that the national worker-to-retiree ratio is projected to drop from 3-to-1 to 2-to-1 in the next few decades, making a responsive immigration system necessary to mitigate labor shortages and maintain economic stability; and

WHEREAS, The current federal immigration system, with its long processing backlogs, evolving caps, and lack of alignment with state-level economic needs, is inefficient and hinders the ability of willing workers to fill open jobs in Ohio; and

WHEREAS, Federal policies have created unnecessary regulatory burdens, making it harder for foreign-born workers to renew and maintain their permanent status. These bureaucratic delays limit employers' ability to access the skilled talent they need which disrupts Ohio businesses and creates uncertainty in the state's labor market; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the Senate of the 136th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, recognize a need for a federal immigration system that is responsive to the needs of businesses so that they can access talent, mitigate labor shortages, and maintain economic stability; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the Senate of the 136th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge Congress and the Executive Branch of the United States to take the following common sense actions to improve pathways for immigrants to mitigate state-level workforce shortages:

Reform existing pathways or create new pathways that lead to permanent status for those already authorized to work in the United States under temporary statuses;

Ease the process to obtain, keep, and renew work authorization to ensure that those who are already here legally can work;

Expand or utilize existing pathways, such as the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, to allow people experiencing forced displacement and who are willing to work and integrate into our community to contribute to our economy;

Improve or create new pathways, such as state-designated visa programs, for immigrants to obtain permanent work authorization status as a long-term and solutions-oriented approach to help employers recruit global talent to address state-level workforce shortages, particularly in critical fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly authenticated copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and members of the Ohio congressional delegation.