Ohio Workers Deserve a Living Wage
Ohio workers are working hard but struggling to make ends meet while CEOs at the state’s biggest companies are raking in massive salaries. According to a recent report, the average CEO in Ohio earned a whopping 308 times more than their median employee in 2023. That’s a huge gap that’s leaving many hardworking Ohioans struggling to put food on the table.
In Cleveland, the median pay at the top corporate employers actually decreased last year, making it even harder for workers to keep up with rising costs. The average median pay was $54,857, which is actually lower than the previous year when adjusting for inflation. At the same time, CEOs saw their pay increase by an average of 20 percent.
It’s clear that something needs to change. Ohioans deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do, and it’s time for CEOs to start sharing the wealth with their employees. Companies are now required to report the ratio of CEO pay to median employee pay, shedding light on just how wide the gap really is. In some cases, like at Goodyear Tire Company and Sherwin-Williams, the ratio was as high as 388-to-1.
This disparity is not sustainable. Many workers are barely scraping by, with median earners at Walmart making just $27,600 – barely above the federal poverty level for a family of three. It’s time for policymakers to step in and make changes that will benefit all working people.
By increasing the minimum wage to at least $15 per hour, hundreds of thousands of Ohio workers could see a boost in their pay. This would help families cover their basic needs and create a more equitable economy for everyone.
Recent polls show that voters support efforts to reduce income inequality and ensure that everyone has a fair shot at success. It’s clear that Ohioans are ready for change, and it’s up to policymakers to make it happen. By supporting better wages, union protections, and increased tax revenue from corporations, we can create a more just and prosperous future for all Ohioans.
