Ohio Unemployment Dips to 4.4% in March

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Unemployment in Ohio was down slightly in March, dipping to 4.4% from 4.6% in February, and down from 4.5% in March 2018.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased for the month to 5,599,500, up from a revised 5,593,200 in February – an increase of 6,300 workers, according to the latest report by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Workers employed in Ohio in March decreased 7,000 to 258,000, down from 265,000 in February. The number of unemployed workers dropped 1,000 during the last 12 months from 259,000.

Employment in goods-producing industries increased 300 to 936,800 in March, driven by gains in construction at 2,500 and mining and logging at 200. That despite a loss of 2,400 jobs in manufacturing, the department reported.

Additional gains in educational and health services (2,600), leisure and hospitality (2,100), professional and business services (1,200), financial activities (1,000) and other services (400) outpaced losses in trade, transportation and utilities (1,600).

Government employment increased as well, increasing by 100 jobs to 778,700, driven by state government gains at 800, exceeding losses in local and federal government at 600 and 100, respectively.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.