Preble County’s employment and wage growth outpaced both the Dayton region and Ohio, Justin Sommer, economic development director for the Preble County Development Partnership, told county commissioners on Oct. 19.
Employment rose 1.2% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026, Sommer said, while Dayton-region employment fell 1% and Ohio posted a slight decline. The county’s unemployment rate was 3.2%, lower than regional and state averages. Sommer said economists often treat about 4% unemployment as full employment, but he also described labor shortages as a barrier to future growth.
Wages climbed 6.5% year over year in Preble County, versus about 3.5% in the Dayton region and 4.5% statewide, according to Sommer. He attributed that to competition for workers. Average county wages were higher than in Wayne, Darke and Montgomery counties and comparable to Miami County, he said. Retention visits with manufacturers found more than 100 open jobs in the prior month. He also cited continued county GDP growth in 2025.
Sommer also updated commissioners on a community visioning effort that was about halfway done after three public open houses. An online survey was planned to follow, with residents asked about possible development scenarios, including a data center. A separate retail study with Grow Services Group was nearing completion.
He said JobsOhio’s Vibrant Community Program featured the MedShip project in Camden in statewide promotional materials. The partnership was also exploring a potential grant application with West Elkton and We Care, while evaluating program changes that include matching funds.