Ohio Unemployment Rate Dips Again

Ohio's unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in December, down from 8.5 percent in November, according to data released Friday morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 3,300 over the month, from the revised 5,109,900 in November to 5,106,600 in December.

The figures show the rate decrease is mostly due to people dropping off the unemployment rolls, but not necessarily finding work. State officials continue to warn that they expect the rate to rise in the future as people return to looking for work.

The local rate for Marion County will be released next week.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in December was 469,000, down from 496,000 in November. The number of unemployed has decreased by 91,000 in the past 12 months from 560,000. The December unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 9.5 percent in December 2010.

The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 8.5 percent, down from 8.7 percent in November.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment decreased 3,300 over the month, from 5,109,900 in November to 5,106,600 in December, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Goods-producing industries, at 819,400, were down 2,100 from November. Construction and mining and logging declined 2,600 and 100 respectively, while manufacturing added 600 jobs. Service-providing industries decreased 1,200 over-the-month to 4,287,200. The most significant losses were posted in professional and business services (-4,700) and financial activities (-1,600). Trade, transportation and utilities and leisure and hospitality decreased 400 each. Government (+3,100), educational and health services (+2,100), and other services (+700) experienced over-the-month gains. Information remained unchanged.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment grew 72,400. Service-providing industries added 48,900 jobs. The most significant gains occurred in educational and health services (+24,600), trade, transportation and utilities (+19,400) and professional and business services (+9,700). Also showing improvement were other services (+1,600), financial activities (+1,300), and information (+1,000). Government declined 6,700 and leisure and hospitality lost 2,000 jobs. Goods-producing industries rose 23,500 over-the-year. Manufacturing added 18,300 jobs as a gain in durable goods (+19,500) exceeded a loss in nondurable goods (-1,200). Construction added 5,200 jobs while, mining and logging employment remained at December's 2010 level.