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Working in Columbus

Columbus has a fast-growing and diversified economy. An excellent destination for graduates and young families in particular, Columbus offers plenty of exciting work opportunities.

Four Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Columbus, including Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, American Electric Power and retail giants L Brands and Big Lots.

Job market in Columbus

The job market in Columbus is buoyant, with sectors such as finance, insurance, health, and technology leading the way. The presence of Ohio State University further enriches the job landscape, providing a steady stream of talent and innovation.

Columbus is not just about traditional employment; it’s a hub for startups and technology firms, driven by an ecosystem that supports growth and development. The city's strategic location offers easy access to national and global markets, making it an ideal place for logistics, manufacturing, and service industries.

In-demand roles span from sales associates and registered nurses to tech-focused positions like DevOps engineers. Regardless of your skillset, this variety means you’ll likely find a role in Columbus’s dynamic job market.

Finding a job in Columbus

 Leveraging online job boards like Monster, Indeed, and LinkedIn is a great starting point for jobseekers in Columbus. These platforms offer a broad range of listings across key industries, making finding opportunities that align with your career goals easier.

Networking plays a crucial role in the Columbus job market. Attend job fairs, industry meetups and events hosted by professional organisations. Additionally, consider engaging with local staffing agencies that can provide access to both temporary and permanent positions.

Companies in Columbus often post vacancies directly on their websites, so it’s worth checking out the careers section of businesses in your field of interest. Social media platforms and local newspapers are valuable resources for finding job openings.

Useful links

Work culture in Columbus

Columbus’s work culture is known for its diversity, innovation, and flexibility. Locals adopt a more laid-back approach to business than one might find in the high-energy American coastal cities, for example, but Columbians are still driven and ambitious workers.

Companies across the city offer various flexible working arrangements, including remote and hybrid options, catering to a workforce that values balance and autonomy. Columbus also boasts a strong startup culture, with many young companies offering progressive benefits and competitive compensation packages.

Relationships are valued, and collaboration is considered an essential tool. As in the rest of the US, it’s best not to bring up sensitive topics such as politics or religion at meetings or work gatherings.

Healthcare in Columbus

As is the case in many cities around the US, healthcare in Columbus is a contentious issue. Although the city – and indeed the country as a whole – has good-quality healthcare available, access is very limited due to high costs and little government assistance for low-income individuals.

We recommend a robust health insurance policy to ensure access to Columbus hospitals and cover day-to-day healthcare expenses. This can be either with a local or international health insurance company. These companies will often have a list of recommended healthcare providers, and some policies cover only select hospitals and doctors, so if insurees have a particular hospital in mind, they should check for limitations before signing up. Some employers will pay for or subsidise employees' health insurance.

Here is a list of recommended hospitals in Columbus.

Hospitals in Columbus

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Website: www.nationwidechildrens.org
Address: 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205

OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital

Website: www.ohiohealth.com
Address: 3535 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43214

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Website: www.wexnermedical.osu.edu
Address: 410 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210

Select Specialty Hospital – Columbus South

Website: www.columbussouth.selectspecialtyhospitals.com
Address: 1430 South High St, Columbus, OH 43207

Getting around in Columbus

Getting around in Columbus without a car will be challenging due to the city’s limited public transport infrastructure, which consists only of buses, a bike-share scheme and taxis. For a city of its size, it’s surprising that there are no trains or trams in Columbus. In fact, it’s the largest city in the US without any form of rail infrastructure.

The city is far from compact, and its vast layout certainly complicates matters of public transport, making driving a much simpler option.

Public transport in Columbus

Bus

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) runs the bus system in Columbus, which has more than 440 buses across 41 routes and transports about 19 million passengers a year.

Several special services are available, including express routes, night services, and airport connectors. There is also a free downtown circulator and a bus rapid transit route. All buses have free WiFi onboard. Those who would like to save can consider using one of the 24 park and ride facilities associated with COTA to continue their journey on public transit.

To pay for bus fares, a COTA Connector smartcard or the Transit app can be used, or tickets can be bought onboard with exact change.

Useful links

Taxis in Columbus

There are numerous private cab companies operating in Columbus. Reputable companies include Buckeye Express Cab and Singh Taxi & Transportation. Reservations can be made online or by phone. Ride-hailing applications are also popular, the most prominent being Uber and Lyft.

Useful links

Driving in Columbus

Most new arrivals in Columbus will realise that their own set of wheels is necessary. Those with a driving licence from another state or country are usually allowed to drive in the US as long as their licence remains valid. Those with licences in languages other than English should obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) before the move.

Once a resident of Ohio, drivers should visit the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to obtain a local driving licence.

Useful links

Cycling in Columbus

The popularity of cycling is on the rise in Columbus, as local authorities are moving towards making the city more bicycle-friendly, creating road infrastructure like protected bike lanes and turn boxes.

Those who aren’t quite ready to commit to owning a bike can use the CoGo BikeShare service, which allows commuters to rent its over 600 bikes stationed at more than 80 stations across Columbus.

Useful links