Ohio’s Unemployment Rate Decreased to 3.9% in February

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s unemployment rate declined to 3.9% in February, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Friday morning.

Last month’s unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point from January’s 4.0% rate, which also was the unemployment rate in February 2022.

The U.S. unemployment rate for February 2023 was 3.6%, up from 3.4% in January 2023, and down from 3.8% in February 2022.

Ohio’s labor force participation rate last month was 61.4%, up from 61.2% in January 2023 and down from 61.6% in February 2022. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 62.5%, up from 62.4% in January 2023 and up from 62.2% in February 2022.

Nonagricultural wage and salary employment in the state increased 900 over the month, from a revised 5,574,600 in January to 5,575,500 in February, 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 935,200, increased 1,100 as gains in construction and mining and logging exceeded losses in manufacturing.

The private service-providing sector, at 3,870,700, added 1,200 jobs. Gains in private educational and health services; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; other services; and information surpassed losses in professional and business services.

Government employment, at 769,600, decreased 1,400 as losses in state and local government outweighed gains in federal government.

Year-over-year, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 77,800 in February.

Employment in goods-producing industries increased 17,800. Manufacturing added 8,700 jobs. Gains in durable goods surpassed losses in nondurable goods. Construction added 8,500 jobs, and mining and logging gained 600 jobs. 

Employment in the private service-providing sector increased 53,600. Gains in private educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and financial activities outpaced losses in professional and business services; trade, transportation and utilities; and information. Government employment increased 6,400, with gains in state, local and federal government.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.