Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in August, down slightly from 5.8 percent in July, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 2,400 over the month, from 5,434,700 in July to 5,437,100 in August.

"Ohio's labor market held steady in August," ODJFS Director Helen Jones-Kelley said. "The marginal decline in the unemployment rate was accompanied by a slight increase in payroll employment."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 337,000, down from 344,000 in July. The number of unemployed has increased by 5,000 in the past 12 months from 332,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.6 percent in August 2006.

The U.S. unemployment rate for August was 4.6 percent, unchanged from the July rate.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment rose 2,400 over the month, from 5,434,700 in July to 5,437,100 in August according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Service-providing industries, at 4,419,700, advanced 4,200 from July. The largest gains were in professional and business services (+2,600) and educational and health services (+2,300). Government was up 800, while leisure and hospitality added 300 jobs. Sectors with declining employment were financial activities (-800), other services (-700), trade, transportation and utilities ( 200), and information (-100). Goods-producing employment dropped 1,800 to 1,017,400. Declines in durable-goods industries lowered manufacturing 2,100. Natural resources and mining slipped 100. Construction was up 400 over the month.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment fell 1,300. Goods-producing employment was down 16,400 as losses in durable goods reduced manufacturing 16,700. Natural resources and mining dropped 300, while construction added 600 jobs. Service-providing industries advanced 15,100 over the year. Educational and health services rose 12,800. Also up were professional and business services (+8,200) and other services (+900). Employment was down in financial activities (-3,600), government (-1,300), information (-1,000), leisure and hospitality (-800), and trade, transportation and utilities (-100).

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 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.

News release dates

A calendar of revised 2007 release dates is available online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/releases.htm. County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for August 2007 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. September 2007 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, October 19, 2007. This information and the monthly statistical summaries it is based on are also available at http://jfs.ohio.gov/releases.

Choose this link to view the table on the Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation.

Choose this link to view the table for the Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Estimates for Ohio.