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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.3 percent in November, unchanged from October, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 4,200 over the month, from 5,394,400 in October, to 5,390,200 in November.

"Job losses continued in Ohio's labor market during November," ODJFS Interim Director Allen said. "The unemployment rate remained at 7.3 percent as gains in service-providing jobs were offset by larger losses in goods-producing jobs."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in November was 435,000, unchanged from October. The number of unemployed has increased by 95,000 in the past 12 months from 340,000. The November unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.7 percent in November 2007.

The U.S. unemployment rate for November was 6.7 percent, up from 6.5 percent in October.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment, at 5,390,200 in November, was 4,200 below the October level, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Goods-producing employment fell 6,400 over the month to 975,100. Losses in durable goods ( 6,100) and nondurable goods (-700) lowered manufacturing 6,800. Construction employment was up 400. Natural resources and mining was little changed. Service-providing industries increased 2,200 to 4,415,100. Trade, transportation, and utilities and professional and business services each rose 1,300. Also up were educational and health services (+800) and leisure and hospitality (+800). Government was down 1,400. Small declines were noted in other services (-300), information ( 200), and financial activities (-100).

Over the past 12 months, nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased by 26,600 jobs. Goods-producing industries were down 29,300. Manufacturing dropped 22,100 due to losses in durable goods (-20,200) and nondurable goods (-1,900). Construction dropped 7,500, while natural resources and mining increased 300. Service-providing industries advanced 2,700 over the year. Educational and health services rose 9,500. Other sectors with increased employment were leisure and hospitality (+3,600) and professional and business services (+900). Trade, transportation, and utilities lost 5,000 jobs over the year. Also down were government (-2,700), other services (-1,700), information ( 1,200), and financial activities (-700).

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 2008 release dates is available online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/releases.htm County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for November 2008 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, December 23, 2008. December 2008 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, January 23, 2009. 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.