If you're just moving down from the Greater Toronto Area after leaving a job at Home Health Care Ontario, you might be a little apprehensive about finding a job. After all, Toledo isn't much like Toronto. There are more factories and fewer offices and to top it all off you won't have the same network of contacts that you once had in your old city. To stop you from freaking out so badly you decide not to move after all, we've compiled this quick guide to the likely sectors in which you might find employment. It's by no means complete or in depth, but it should provide you a jumping-off point for your search.
Auto Manufacturing
Though the city was initially founded as a port, and indeed still has a certain amount of dockyard capacity, since the industrial revolution Toledo has been a major hub of manufacturing, particularly in the automobile industry. Job opportunities in this sector are declining, though, as high fuel prices and cheap overseas labor have hung counterweights on the distribution of factories. The General Motors and Chrysler plants are still operating, however, thanks to huge tax incentives. The Dana Corporation, an auto parts manufacturer, also still exists, but many others, like Electric Auto-Lite and Questor have fallen by the wayside.
Glass
Toledo isn't well-known for its offices and financial companies, so there's precious little, apart from the Fifth-Third Banks' regional headquarters, to attract Toronto executive recruiting firms. However, if you're a skilled glass artisan you may find your niche here. Toledo is home to Owens-Corning, the largest fiberglass maker in the world. Libbey Glass and Pilkington North America also have large operations. Windows, bottles, construction materials, windshields and art are made out of glass in Toledo factories.
Education
The education sector is on its way up in Toledo, which is good news for educators, administrators, and support staff. The University of Toledo now has the city's highest number of jobs. Gatineau ex-pats will be familiar with the work at a university, since it's similar to a bureaucracy. The University of Toledo offers all the standard arts and sciences on the undergraduate level. At the graduate level the university has opportunities not just for instructors in medicine, law and science but also for researchers. The Wright Center has a respected solar cell program and the athletics teams could provide jobs to coaches and trainers.
Retail and Health Care
Toledo's central location makes it a logical hub for retail shopping and health care for much of northwest Ohio. Anyone in the surrounding towns would come to Toledo if they were looking for a spa or a new outfit or an event planner. Toronto serves a similar role in southern Ontario. Therefore Toledo is the ideal place to find a sales job, open a new store, or set up a service business, as you could capitalize on the patronage of the whole region. Most of the high end health care facilities in northwest Ohio are also located here, so this is where you want to be if you're a doctor, nurse, orderly or medical support worker.
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