Ohio Unemployment Rate Down Slightly in May

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s unemployment rate fell to 5.1% in May, down a tenth of a point from April’s 5.2%, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported this morning. Unemployment in the state was up from 4.9% in May 2015.

The U.S. unemployment rate for May was 4.7%, down from 5.0% in April and down from 5.5% in May 2015.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in May was 300,000, down 2,000 from 302,000 in April. The number of unemployed has increased by 18,000 in the past 12 months from 282,000.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 9,200 over the month, from a revised 5,477,600 in April to 5,486,800 in May , according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Goods-producing industries, at 900,400, lost 4,600 jobs over the month in manufacturing (-3,100), construction (-1,300), and mining and logging (-200). The private service-providing sector, at 3,817,400, added 14,700 jobs. Employment gains in educational and health services (+7,900), leisure and hospitality (+3,900), other services (+2,500), trade, transportation, and utilities (+800), and financial activities (+300) exceeded losses in information (-400) and professional and business services (-300).

Government employment, at 769,000, decreased 900 as losses in local government (-4,700) surpassed gains in state (+3,100) and federal (+700) government.

From May 2015 to May 2016, nonagricultural wage and salary employment grew 70,900. Employment in goods-producing industries decreased 400. Manufacturing employment decreased 4,800 as losses in durable goods (-11,500) exceeded gains in nondurable goods (+6,700). Mining and logging lost 3,000 jobs over the year. Construction added 7,400 jobs. The private service-providing sector added 70,400 jobs.

Gains in educational and health services (+29,800), leisure and hospitality (+17,600), trade, transportation, and utilities (+10,800), financial activities (+8,900), other services (+7,500), and information (+200) outweighed losses in professional and business services (-4,400). Government employment increased 900 as gains in state (+6,200) and federal (+1,100) government offset losses in local government (-6,400).

SOURCE: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

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