Ohioans’ thirst for beer stimulates state economy

By Brandon Klein

bklein@vindy.com

youngstown

Ohio drinks up as breweries in the state are creating jobs in and out of the beer industry.

Ohio ranks sixth in the country with more than 82,000 jobs in the industry, according to a study by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association that analyzed how many jobs breweries produce.

“Today, we toast to the thousands of Ohio residents whose jobs make it possible for Americans to enjoy their favorite beer,” Jim McGreevy, Beer Institute president and CEO, said in a statement. “America’s preference for beer is a huge boon to the national and Ohio economies.”

The Beer Institute study showed that each Ohio brewer or beer importer job supports other jobs in a variety of sectors: agriculture, business and personal services, construction, finance, insurance and real estate, manufacturing, retail, transportation and communication, travel and entertainment and wholesale.

One job at a brewery supports 45 other jobs, according to the Washington D.C.-based Beer Institute’s study.

That includes one job in agriculture, three jobs in distributing and 20.5 jobs in retail.

Ken Blair, the owner of the Rust Belt Brewing Co. in Youngstown, said it’s Ohio’s love for craft beer that make breweries a success.

“There’s a lot of competition in craft beer,” Blair said. “Especially in Ohio.”

Blair said his brewery is more focused on the local area in Northeast Ohio including Akron and Canton. However, growth is steadily increasing, he said.

“We’re starting to get the recognition,” Blair said. “It’s still a work in progress.”

The brewery also added a tap house at 112 W. Commerce St. 10 months ago.

According to the study, the production, distribution and selling of beer in Ohio pays nearly $3 billion in wages and has a total economic impact of $10 billion.

More than 2 million workers, directly and indirectly, are employed from the beer industry. The industry also contributed $246.6 billion to America’s economy and generated $49 billion in local, state and federal taxes.