Ohio has been struggling to redefine itself economically, as its manufacturing sector continues to shed jobs and its workforce ages. Workers are also paid less than their parents 20 years ago. However, Wayne County's Employment Resource Fund could provide a blueprint for helping people find new careers.

How have changes in the manufacturing sector affected Wayne County in the last two and a half decades?

Wayne County, like a lot of Northeast Ohio, was a big manufacturing hub 25 years ago. For example, Rubbermaid had a manufacturing plant in Wooster up until the company was bought out in 1998.

Today, the county is in a place that's somewhere between hopeful and concerning. Recent research from Policy Matters Ohio shows the county has seen a 15% decrease in manufacturing jobs since

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