Ohio Unemployment Stays at 4%

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s unemployment rate remained at 4% in September, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Friday. The statewide rate was unchanged from August’s rate and was down from 4.7% in September 2021.

The U.S. unemployment rate for September 2022 was 3.5%, down from 3.7% in August 2022, and down from 4.7% in September 2021.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in September was 232,000, up from 229,000 in August and down from 270,000 a year ago, according to household survey data.

Labor force participation in Ohio was 61.7%, down from 61.8% in August 2022 and up from 61.5% in September 2021. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 62.3%, down from 62.4% in August 2022 and up from 61.7% in September 2021.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment decreased 7,600 over the month, from a revised 5,488,100 in August to 5,480,500 in September, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Employment in goods-producing industries, at 935,400, increased 11,100 over the month with gains in manufacturing (8,700); construction (2,100); and mining and logging (300).

The private service-providing sector, at 3,789,900, decreased 17,300 as losses in leisure and hospitality; educational and health services; other services; professional and business services; and financial activities exceeded gains in trade, transportation and utilities; and information.

Government employment, at 755,200, decreased 1,400 as losses in state and local government outpaced gains in federal government.

Year over year, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 93,300 in September.

Employment in goods-producing industries increased 36,800. Manufacturing added 23,200 jobs in nondurable goods and durable goods. Construction added 13,000 jobs while mining and logging gained 600 jobs.

Employment in the private service-providing sector increased 53,600 as gains in trade, transportation, and utilities; leisure and hospitality; other services; information; educational and health services; and financial activities outweighed losses in professional and business services.

Government employment increased 2,900 as gains in local government surpassed losses in state and federal government.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.