Ohio Jobless Rate Drops to 4.8% in November

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s unemployment rate stood at 4.8% in November 2021, down from 5.1% in October. Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 12,200 over the month, from a revised 5,378,900 in October to 5,391,100 in November 2021.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in November was 275,000, down from 289,000 in October. The number of unemployed has decreased by 45,000 in the past 12 months from 320,000. The November unemployment rate for Ohio decreased from 5.6% in November 2020.

The U.S. unemployment rate for November 2021 was 4.2%, down from 4.6% in October, and down from 6.7% in November 2020.

In November, the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 61.3%, up from 61.2% in October 2021 and down from 61.9% in November 2020. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 61.8%, up from 61.6% in October and up from 61.5% in November 2020.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 12,200 over the month, from a revised 5,378,900 in October to 5,391,100 in November, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Employment in goods-producing industries, at 901,600, increased 3,200 over the month. The construction sector added 2,800 positions and manufacturing added another 500 jobs, more than offsetting the 100 job losses in mining and logging sectors.

The private service-providing sector, at 3,733,300, increased 8,100 as leisure and hospitality posted 8,000 new jobs; professional and business services added 2,200; trade, transportation, and utilities added 1,400; information posted another 400; and other services were up by 400 positions. These gains outpaced losses in educational and health services, down 3,200 jobs, and financial activities, off 1,100.

Government employment, at 756,200, increased 900. The federal government added 1,000 positions during the month, while state government employment decreased 100. Local government employment did not change over the month.

From November 2020 to November 2021, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 98,800. Employment in goods-producing industries increased 12,800. Manufacturing added 2,200 jobs. Gains in nondurable goods stood at 3,100 and exceeded losses of 900 jobs in durable goods. Construction added 11,200 jobs and mining and logging lost 600.

Employment in the private service-providing sector increased 77,400, led by gains in leisure and hospitality with 39,600 new positions; followed by trade, transportation, and utilities, up 24,100; professional and business services, an increase of 17,800 jobs; information up 2,100 jobs; other services created another 900 positions; and financial activities, added 200.

These increases outweighed losses in educational and health services, which were down 7,300 jobs. Government employment increased by 8,600 with gains in local government of 6,200; state government added 2,200 jobs; and the federal government added a total of 200 positions.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.