NKY job gains double Vision 2015 goal

Northern Kentucky gained 3,158 net new primary jobs in 2008, more than double the Vision 2015 goal of adding 1,430 new primary jobs per year. “This is good news—even more than we expected. Our hope is that secondary and tertiary jobs will follow,” Dan Tobergte, President/CEO of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and key Vision 2015 leader, said. These desirable jobs generated $2.29 million in Northern Kentucky local payroll taxes, underscoring their impact on local economies.  Primary jobs are higher-skill, higher-pay jobs in twelve key industries. The average salaries of these new jobs top $72,000 per year. The figure includes 2,092 jobs in the Management of Companies sector; 2008 marks the seventh consecutive year that Northern Kentucky has posted gains in this sector. Tobergte credits the new office of Fidelity Investments in Covington with a significant portion of the job gains. Other expansions and start-ups include Jacobs Automation, Andrews Electronics, PHD Diagnostics, ASTAR Air Cargo, and DHL Express USA. The increase in this type of job reflects Vision 2015’s success in meeting its job-growth goals. Vision 2015 is Northern Kentucky’s 10-year strategic plan, using economic growth as a catalyst for regional transformation. Policom Corporation, an independent economic research firm, posted the new jobs data in its 2008 Economic Development Performance Evaluation. The report included data from the nine-county Northern Kentucky region. Writer: Elena StevensonSources: Dan Tobergte, President/CEO Northern Kentucky Tri-ED; Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed