The Columbus metro enjoyed strong jobs growth as of late by adding 23,000 payrolls, annually, according to the latest figures from the BLS. Total non-farm employment now sits at roughly 1 million jobs. Meanwhile, unemployment currently stands at 5.0 percent, an increase of 1.1 percent from the previous month.

1. Office employment trends (12-month change)
Columbus
Total jobs vs. Unemployment rate
Columbus
Office employment update
Metro Columbus . April 2015
Cost containment remains key for most tenants in the Columbus market. Many
businesses continue to operate with a lean workforce. Real estate is generally
the second largest expenditure for companies after personnel costs, so
tenants are continuing to keep a close eye on their office space and look for
opportunities to consolidate or condense their operations as they manage
expenses. Columbus-based Huntington Bank’s recent announcement that it
would eliminate nearly 200 positions amid efforts to control rising personnel
costs is a common example of such cost containment strategies.
The government sector has long played an important role in the capitol city
and along with professional and business services, has historically accounted
for the largest portion of office-occupied space, reaching its highest peak in
2013 at just over 163,000 employees in December. The majority of
government entities are located in the CBD, and occupy more than four million
square feet of space, most of which is owner-occupied.
Office real estate implications
Job growth/loss by sector (12-month change)
Columbus
-2,000
-1,300
-1,200
1,100
2,100
2,100
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,200
-4000 -2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000
Government
Financial Activities
Information
Manufacturing
Leisure & Hospitality
Other Services
Professional & Business Services
Mining and Logging
Educational & Health Services
Trade, Transportation & Utilities
Number of Jobs
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
780,000
800,000
820,000
840,000
860,000
880,000
900,000
920,000
940,000
960,000
980,000
1,000,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Peak: 984,122 jobs
2.8%
Total Employment Unemployment
Sources: Jones Lang LaSalle Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics
5.0%Columbus unemployment
2.3%Columbus12-month job growth
5.5%U.S. unemployment
2.3%U.S. 12-month job growth
• The Columbus metro enjoyed strong jobs growth as of late by adding
23,000 payrolls, annually, according to the latest figures from the BLS.
Total non-farm employment now sits at roughly 1 million jobs.
Meanwhile, unemployment currently stands at 5.0 percent, an increase of
1.1 percent from the previous month.
• The office employment sector endured a slight hiccup, dropping 500 from
payrolls, annually. Professional and business services was the only
office-using supersector to post employment gains, adding 4,00 jobs,
year-over-year. The government supersector faired poorest, dropping
2,000 from payrolls, annually.
• Total U.S. nonfarm employment increased by 126,000 jobs in March, the
lowest level since March 2013 and well below economist forecasts of
244,000 jobs. Downward revisions were also made to the January and
February figures, totaling 69,000 jobs.
• U.S. unemployment was unchanged at 5.5 percent and wage growth
remained sluggish as average hourly earnings increased only 2.1 percent
year-over-year, far below the Fed’s goal of 3.5 percent or better. (15.0)
(10.0)
(5.0)
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Financial Activities Professional and Business Services Information Government

2. © 2015 Jones Lang LaSalle IP, Inc. All rights reserved.
All information contained herein is from sources deemed
reliable; however, no representation or warranty is made
to the accuracy thereof.
JLL Americas Research • Columbus Office Employment Update 2
February 2013 February 2014 February 2015
Total Non-farm
Employment
968,500
2.2%
990,200
2.2%
1,013,200
2.3%
Unemployment Rate 7.0% 5.9% 5.0%
Columbus Supersectors February 2013 February 2014 February 2015
Mining, Logging and Construction 28,600 2.9% 30,200 5.6% 35,200 16.6%
Manufacturing 68,700 2.7% 69,100 0.6% 70,200 1.6%
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities 182,700 0.7% 185,400 1.5% 192,600 3.9%
Information 18,300 8.9% 18,200 -0.5% 17,000 -6.6%
Financial Activities 75,100 3.6% 75,300 0.3% 74,000 -1.7%
Professional & Business Services 159,300 3.2% 168,900 6.0% 172,900 2.4%
Educational & Health Services 139,700 1.7% 144,900 3.7% 150,900 4.1%
Leisure & Hospitality 93,200 6.0% 93,900 0.8% 96,000 2.2%
Other Services 37,600 4.4% 38,400 2.1% 40,500 5.5%
Government 165,300 -0.9% 165,900 0.4% 163,900 -1.2%
News on the street
Columbus businesses expanding, contracting, etc.
Employment statistics
Columbus
Industry employment stratification
Columbus
Berardi & Partners Ι Architectural Services: Relocating
The Berardi & Partners design firm plans to leave its home on the edge of German Village for one of three office buildings the Edwards Cos. development firm built
in Grandview Heights nearly nine years ago. Records show Goodale IV LLC, real estate affiliate of the design firm, purchased the 15,738-square-foot office property
at 1398 Goodale Blvd. for $2.1 million. The firm will move into about 11,000 square feet that's occupied by the Conrad Phillips Vutec.
Coyote Logistics Ι Freight Forwarding Services: Expanding
Chicago-based logistics provider, Coyote Logistics, plans to relocate its administrative operations from Hilliard and expand its regional offices at the mixed-use
complex at 250 S. High Street. under construction downtown. Daimler Group and Kaufman Development expect to finish the project this year. Coyote looks to add
50 new jobs while moving 34 existing jobs with its relocation. According to the firm, Coyote was attracted to Columbus strategist logistics hub among other factors.
Lextant Corp. Ι Consulting Service: Expanding
Columbus-based Lextant Corp., a research and design consulting firm, is seeking a five-year, 50 percent Columbus Downtown Office incentive for its plans to create
40 new jobs and retain 45. Founded in 1998, Lextant has been working with the world’s leading companies to bring meaningful products and services to market.
Lextant is currently located at 580 N. 4th Street in the Smith Brothers Hardware building in the Warehouse District.
Neo Innovation Ι Information Technology Services: Contracting
Neo Innovation has shut down operations of its Powell software development office three years after acquiring the former EdgeCase LLC. The office was down to
about 12 software engineers, from 33 in three cities in 2012, when Tokyo-based Digital Garage bought and combined several U.S. firms under its New Context
division. It was renamed Neo a few months later. Neo Columbus and the former EdgeCase specialized in agile development in the programming language Ruby.
Ringside Search Partners Inc. Ι Staffing Services: Expanding
Columbus-based Ringside Search Partners Inc., an employee staffing and executive search firm, is seeking a five-year, 50 percent Downtown Office Incentive for its
plans to add 32 new jobs and retain 14. In roughly four years, Ringside has grown into a $2.1 million-dollar talent acquisition firm covering nine states and
specializing in accounting, finance, tax, audit and information technology. Ringside occupies roughly 2,500 square feet in the PNC Plaza.
Thelab Ι Advertising Agencies: Expanding
A New York creative production agency is making Columbus its Midwest home. Thelab, which counts Victoria's Secret among its clients, has taken 5,500 square
feet at 855 Grandview Avenue and expects to hire between 10 and 15 employees in the next 18 months. Thelab was founded in 2002 as a creative retouching
agency and has grown into a full-service production group. It has 90 employees between its New York and Los Angeles offices.
Cody Brooks
Research Analyst
tel +1 614 460 4444
Cody.Brooks@am.jll.com
65 E State Street,
Suite 550
Columbus, OH 43215
www.jll.com/columbus
Robert Kramp
Senior Vice President – Americas
Midwest & Great Lakes Research Director
tel +1 312 228 2470
Robert.Kramp@am.jll.com
200 East Randolph Street,
47th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
www.us.joneslanglasalle.com/research
Trade, transportation
and Utilities,
192,600, 19%
Professional and
Business Services,
172,900, 17%
Government,
163,900, 16%
Educational and Health
Services,
150,900, 15%
Leisure and Hospitality,
96,000, 10%
Financial Activities,
74,000, 7%
Manufacturing,
70,200, 7%
Other Services,
40,500, 4%
Mining, Logging and
construction,
35,200, 3%
Information,
17,000, 2%