Ohio Unemployment Rate Increases to 4.5%

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.5% in July, up from 4.4% in June, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Friday.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 2,200 over the month, from a revised 5,667,500 in June to 5,669,700 in July.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in July was 264,000, up from 254,000 in June. The number of unemployed has increased by 67,000 in the past 12 months from 197,000. The July unemployment rate for Ohio has increased 1.1 percentage points from 3.4% in July 2023.

The U.S. unemployment rate for July was 4.3%, up from 4.1% in June and up from 3.5% in July 2023.

In July, the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 62.3%, up from 62.1% in June and up from 61.9% in July 2023. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 62.7%, up from 62.6% in June and up from 62.6% in July 2023.

Employment in goods-producing industries, at 942,500, increased 2,300, with gains in construction and manufacturing outweighing losses in mining and logging. The private service-providing sector, at 3,940,900, increased 1,100, as gains in private educational and health services; other services; and trade, transportation and utilities exceeded losses in professional and business services and financial activities. Employment in leisure and hospitality and information did not change over the month. Government employment, at 786,300, decreased 1,200, with losses in local and federal government outpacing gains in state government.

From July 2023 to July 2024, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 44,500. Employment in goods-producing industries increased 6,300, led by construction, which added 8,300 jobs. Manufacturing lost 2,000 jobs, as decreases in durable goods outweighed gains in nondurable goods. Mining and logging employment did not change over the year. Employment in the private service-providing sector increased 36,400 as gains in private educational and health services; other services; leisure and hospitality; and professional and business services outpaced losses in financial activities; trade, transportation and utilities; and information. Government employment increased 1,800 as gains in federal and state government exceeded losses in local government.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.