Columbus Chamber Presents Results of Young Professionals Survey -- What Makes Columbus ‘Cool’ for the Young and Talented?

Last week, the Columbus Chamber convened its annual meeting on the State of Young Professionals in Central Ohio.  The evening combined career development workshops with networking and a presentation of the results of the Chamber’s recent survey on “What Makes Columbus ‘Cool’ for the Young and Talented.” 

With young professionals (YPs) comprising such a significant portion of the Columbus Region’s workforce and entrepreneurial community, the Columbus Chamber considers this key demographic vital to its mission to retain and attract business within the region.  In 2006, the Chamber launched the Attract and Retain Talent initiative focused on the talented young professionals, artists and entrepreneurs in Central Ohio. At that time more than 4,000 YPs, ages 25-34, responded to a survey about “What Makes Columbus ‘Cool’ for the Young & Talented.” Based on the information gathered, the initiative set forth to promote the region as an appealing place for a young, well-educated and highly mobile workforce to settle.

Five years later, the Chamber re-surveyed YPs to see how things have progressed.  According to the 2011 survey, young professionals choose to make the Columbus Region home because of its amenities, vitality and social engagement.

The majority of respondents love the features Columbus has to offer, with more than half citing the region’s “amenities” as the reason they stay local. Regarding what YPs look for in a community, “social capital” – defined as living in a diverse community where people are engaged and involved – recorded the biggest increase in importance from 2007 to 2011, jumping from 82 percent to 91 percent. The “cost of lifestyle,” which topped the list at 97 percent in 2007, remained the top answer at 98 percent.

Respondents felt most strongly that the Columbus Region’s “vitality” is on the rise.  Vitality refers to a vibrant, “out and about” community where people take advantage of parks, recreation and other healthy living options.  This metric increased 21 percentage points over 2007 responses.

When asked what one wish they had to make Columbus a magnet for young, talented people, 37 percent of those responding chose alternative transportation, such as improved public transportation and the addition of passenger rail services, up from 23 percent in 2007.

Complete results of the 2011 survey can be seen:  http://b700441e9603e56472e76fceed3901483f5d7759.gripelements.com/pdf/member_resources/2011_state_of_the_yp_report.pdf