Ohio Unemployment Ticks Upward in October

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s unemployment rate increased to 3.6% in October, yet the number of those participating in nonagricultural wage and salary employment has increased to the highest levels since statistics began in 1990.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Friday that October unemployment was up from the 3.4% reported in September. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9% in October, up from 3.8% in September and 3.7% in October of 2022.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 7,700 over the month, from a revised 5,648,200 in September to 5,655,900 in October.

The labor force participation in Ohio was 62% in October, down from 62.1% in September and up from 61.2% in October 2022. Comparatively, the U.S. participation rate was 62.7%, also down from September’s 62.8% mark and up from 62.2% a year ago.

Between October 2022 and October 2023, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 109,600. Employment in goods-producing industries increased by 21,200; manufacturing increased 2,800; and construction added 17,700 jobs. Mining and logging gained 700 jobs. 

Employment in the private service-providing sector increased 75,400. Gains in private educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and professional and business services outweighed losses in financial activities; trade transportation and utilities; and information. Government employment increased 13,000, with gains in all three sectors – local, federal and state government.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.