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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in September, down from 7.4 percent in August, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 3,400 over the month, from 5,405,700 in August, to 5,402,300 in September.

"Ohio's labor market showed little change in September," ODJFS Director Helen Jones-Kelley said. "The decline in the unemployment rate can be attributed to normal fluctuations in educational employment this time of year."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in September was 434,000, down from 445,000 in August. The number of unemployed has increased by 93,000 in the past 12 months from 341,000. The September unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.7 percent in September 2007.

The U.S. unemployment rate for September was 6.1 percent, unchanged from August.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment fell 3,400 over the month, from 5,405,700 in August to 5,402,300 in September, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Service-providing industries, at 4,415,900, were down 3,100 from August. The largest decline occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (-3,000). Also down were educational and health services (-900), other services ( 700), and financial activities (-100). Government rose 1,100 as non-teaching personnel returned to state education. Smaller gains were noted in leisure and hospitality (+400) and professional and business services (+100). Information showed little change. Goods-producing industries fell 300 to 986,400. Decreases in durable goods and nondurable goods lowered manufacturing 500. Construction advanced 200, while natural resources and mining remained at the August level.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment dropped 17,500. Goods-producing industries were down 16,900 from September 2007. Manufacturing fell 11,500 due mainly to reductions in durable goods. Construction lost 5,800 jobs. Natural resources and mining was up 400. Service-providing industries declined 600. The largest losses were in trade, transportation, and utilities (-6,300) and government (-3,000). Also down were information (-1,700), other services (-1,700), financial activities (-1,500), and professional and business services (-200). Significant increases occurred in educational and health services (+9,000) and leisure and hospitality (+4,800).

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 June be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Labor Market Information at (614) 466-1109.

News release dates

A calendar of 2008 release dates is available online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/releases.htm County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for September 2008 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, October 21, 2008. October 2008 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, November 21, 2008. This information and the monthly statistical summaries it is based on are also available at http://jfs.ohio.gov/releases.

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