Ohio Unemployment Rises to 4.2% in October

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The statewide unemployment rate for Ohio in October was 4.2%, up two-tenths of a percentage point from September’s 4.0% rate, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Friday. Nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 15,700 over the month, from a revised 5,493,700 in September to 5,509,400 last month.

The statewide increase in unemployment mirrored the rise in the U.S. unemployment rate, which went from 3.5% in September to 3.7% last month.

In October 2021, the statewide unemployment rate was 4.5%, just below the U.S. rate of 4.6%.

The labor force participation rate in Ohio last month was 61.5%, down from 61.7% in September 2022 and unchanged from 61.5% in October 2021. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 62.2%, down from 62.3% in September 2022 and up from 61.7% in October 2021.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in October was 242,000, up from 232,000 in September, based on household survey data. The number of unemployed has decreased by 19,000 in the past 12 months from 261,000.

Employment in goods-producing industries, at 937,700, increased 700 in construction, while mining and logging and manufacturing were unchanged over the month.

The private service-providing sector, at 3,810,800, increased 9,700 as gains in educational and health services, leisure and hospitality, other services and financial activities surpassed losses in professional and business services, information, and trade, transportation, and utilities. Government employment, at 760,900, increased 5,300 with gains in local, federal and state government.

From October 2021 to October 2022, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 127,300.

Employment in goods-producing industries increased 36,100. Manufacturing added 22,500 jobs in nondurable goods and durable goods. Construction added 13,300 jobs while mining and logging gained 300 jobs. Employment in the private service-providing sector increased 72,400. Gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation, and utilities, educational and health services, other services, information, professional and business services and financial activities.

Government employment increased 18,800 in local, state and federal government.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.