Employment Categories

The Ohio Department of Transportation values the talents and abilities of our people and strives to create a long-term, reliable, professional, and highly productive organization in which both our employees and the agency can thrive.

ODOT employees are hired in accordance with state and federal laws, and within a range of categories.

​Bargaining Unit & Non-Bargaining Unit

The State of Ohio has two categories of employees: Bargaining Unit and Non-Bargaining Unit. Bargaining Unit employees are represented by the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA), AFCME, Local 11 and AFL-CIO, with ODOT’s Bargaining Unit employees represented by OSCEA. The State of Ohio and OCSEA negotiate a contract to establish wages, hours, terms and conditions of employment and procedures for resolution of differences. The current contract with OCSEA can be accessed here. 

Non-bargaining unit employees are not represented by a labor union. Employees are usually exempt from union representation because they are supervisors or temporary employees.

Classified and Unclassified Employees

A classified employee has employment protection under the terms of Ohio Civil Service laws.

An unclassified employee serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority. He or she is appointed by the officer having the power to hire him or her, and may be dismissed by the appointing authority. Unclassified employees usually hold policy-making or principal managerial positions with significant authority to act for the agency.

Appointment Types

Employees may be hired under a variety of appointment types. The following chart describes the hours of work and schedules normally associated with the various appointments at ODOT.