Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in August, down from 5.7 percent in July, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The U.S. unemployment rate for August was 5.7 percent, also down 0.2 percent from July.
"The lower unemployment rate compared to July largely reflects a decrease in the number of people, particularly youth, seeking work," said ODJFS Director Tom Hayes. "Overall, the Ohio labor market changed little in August, a pattern that has been reflected over the last several months, suggesting the economy is holding steady."
The number of workers unemployed in August was 325,000, compared to 339,000 in July and the August 2001 figure of 256,000. The August 2001 unemployment rate was 4.4 percent.
Ohio County Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Among the state's 88 counties, the August 2002 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 2.9 percent in Holmes County to a high of 10.8 percent in Morgan County. Rates decreased in almost all of the counties. The comparable rate for Ohio for August was 5.3 percent.
Ten counties had unemployment rates below 4.0 percent in August. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Holmes were: Putnam, 3.2; Hancock, 3.4; Union, 3.5; Clinton, Delaware, Geauga and Madison, 3.6; and Logan and Warren, 3.9 percent.
Eight counties had unemployment rates at or above 7.0 percent during August. The counties with the highest rates, other than Morgan were: Adams, 10.5; Vinton, 10.2; Meigs, 9.5; Crawford, 8.6; Brown, 7.4; Scioto, 7.2; and Jackson, 7.0 percent.
Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment fell 9,300 over the month, from 5,511,100 in July 2002 to 5,501,700 in August 2002, according to the latest survey conducted by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Service-producing industries were down 8,200 from July. Government dropped 4,600 due to declines in local and state government. Scattered decreases lowered services 2,300. Transportation and public utilities was 1,600 lower, while retail trade lost 1,200 jobs. Wholesale trade was up 1,100 over the month. Finance, insurance, and real estate was 300 higher. Employment in goods-producing industries slipped 1,100. Manufacturing was down 4,000 with declines in transportation equipment, rubber and miscellaneous plastics products, and fabricated metal products. Growth among special trade contractors boosted construction 2,700. Mining advanced 200 over the month.
Over the year, nonagricultural wage and salary employment dropped 50,400. Goods-producing employment was down 25,400 due to declines of 18,300 in manufacturing. Primary metal industries, transportation equipment, industrial machinery and equipment, fabricated metal products, printing and publishing, and rubber and miscellaneous plastics products had the greatest losses. Construction employment fell 6,500, while mining was 600 lower. Among service producers (-25,000), retail trade dropped 10,900 with losses in nearly every sector. A decline of 13,000 in business services was partially offset by scattered increases, lowering services 7,400. Other divisions with less employment were transportation and public utilities (-4,500), wholesale trade (-1,800), and finance, insurance, and real estate (-1,500). Government rose 1,100 over the year.
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For more information contact ODJFS Communications, (614) 466-6650.
EDITOR'S NOTE: All data cited are produced in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Labor. Data sources include Current Population Survey (U.S. data); Current Employment Statistics Program (nonagricultural wage and salary employment data); and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Program (Ohio unemployment rates). More complete listings of the data appear in the monthly Ohio Labor Market Review. Unemployment rates for all Ohio counties as well as cities with populations of 50,000 or more are presented in the monthly ODJFS Civilian Labor Force Estimates publication. Updated statewide historical data may be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Labor Market Information at (614) 466-1109. September unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data will be released by ODJFS on Friday, October 18. This information and the monthly statistical summaries it is based on are also available at http://jfs.ohio.gov/releases while a list of monthly release dates for 2002 is available at http://lmi.state.oh.us under "LAUS Current Labor Force Estimates."
Choose this link to view the table on the Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation.
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