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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in August, up from 7.2 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 decreased 3,700 over the month, from 5,410,500 in July, to 5,406,800 in August.

"Ohio's labor market continued to mirror the national trend by showing signs of decline in August," ODJFS Director Helen Jones-Kelley said. "Larger decreases in the goods-producing sectors resulted from continued losses in manufacturing and durable goods."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 445,000, up from 432,000 in July. The number of unemployed has increased by 106,000 in the past 12 months from 339,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.7 percent in August 2007.

The U.S. unemployment rate for August was 6.1 percent, up from 5.7 percent in July.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment fell 3,700 over the month, from 5,410,500 in July to 5,406,800 in August according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Goods-producing industries, at 985,700, declined 6,500 from July. The loss was concentrated in manufacturing (-6,200) as reductions in durable goods (-6,400) were partially offset by small gains in nondurable goods (+200). Construction employment was down 400. Natural resources and mining advanced 100. Service-providing employment rose 2,800 to 4,421,100. Educational and health services was up 2,300 due to growth in health care and social assistance (+1,600) and educational services (+700). Also up were leisure and hospitality (+800) and government (+700). Declines occurred in financial activities (-600), information (-200), and professional and business services ( 200). Trade, transportation, and utilities and other services were virtually unchanged over the month.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment fell 19,300. Goods-producing employment was down 20,500 as losses in durable goods helped reduce manufacturing 15,000. Construction dropped 5,900, while natural resources and mining added 400 jobs. Service-providing industries advanced 1,200 over the year. Sectors with increased employment were educational and health services (+10,700) and leisure and hospitality (+2,100). Employment was down in trade, transportation, and utilities (-3,200), government (-2,600), information ( 2,000), financial activities ( 1,900), and other services (-1,900). There was little change in professional and business services.

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 August 2008 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. September 2008 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, October 17, 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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