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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.8 percent in May, up from 10.2 percent in April, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 200 over the month, from 5,132,900 in April to 5,132,700 in May.

"Gains in service-providing industries were mostly offset by continued losses in manufacturing," ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin said. "The unemployment rate increased to 10.8 percent as workers re-entered the labor market and many were unable to find employment."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in May was 646,000, up from 609,000 in April. The number of unemployed has increased by 268,000 in the past 12 months from 378,000. The May unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 6.3 percent in May 2008.

The U.S. unemployment rate for May was 9.4 percent, up from 8.9 percent in April.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment slipped 200 over the month, from 5,132,900 in April to 5,132,700 in May, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Goods-producing industries fell 15,600 to 816,000. A decline of 17,400 in durable goods was partially offset by a gain of 1,300 in nondurable goods, lowering manufacturing employment 16,100. The workforce advanced in construction (+400) and mining and logging (+100). Service-providing industries, at 4,316,700, rose 15,400. The largest increases occurred in educational and health services (+8,400) and leisure and hospitality (+2,200). Also up were financial activities (+1,800), trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,600), professional and business services (+1,500), other services (+400), and information (+100). Government was down 600 as a decrease in federal government was mostly offset by growth in state and local government.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment fell 262,100. Goods-producing industries were 155,900 lower. Manufacturing was down 124,400 due to losses in durable goods (-101,500) and nondurable goods (-22,900). Construction dropped 31,400, while mining and logging slipped 100. Declines in most sectors reduced service-providing employment 106,200. Significant decreases were noted in professional and business services (-54,300), trade, transportation, and utilities (-42,300), financial activities (-12,300), government (-6,800), information (-6,700), and other services (-3,100). Educational and health services rose 16,400, while leisure and hospitality advanced 2,900.

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. Ohioans can access tens of thousands of job openings, for positions ranging from file clerks to CEOs, at www.ohiomeansjobs.com.

News release dates

A calendar of 2009 release dates is available online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/releases.htm County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for May 2009 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. June 2009 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, July 17, 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.