By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
Unemployment figures for July 2025 have been released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, showing increases across most of the region.
Many Northwest Ohio counties saw their rates climb after holding steady or making progress earlier this summer. Fulton County’s unemployment rate rose to 5.4% in July, up from 4.9% in June.
Williams County also saw a jump, climbing to 5.5% from 5.1% the previous month. Defiance County followed suit, moving from 4.9% in June to 5.3% in July.
Henry County also recorded an increase, landing at 5.5% after reporting 5.0% the month before. Wood County experienced a similar change, rising to 5.4% in July compared to 4.8% in June. Hancock County matched that figure at 5.4%.
Lucas County saw a significant uptick, reporting 7.4% unemployment compared to 6.0% in June, remaining the highest rate among the Northwest Ohio counties.
Ottawa County rose to 5.6%, while Seneca County climbed to 5.9% and Sandusky County reached 6.4%, all above their June levels. Paulding County held steady at 5.0%, and Putnam County again posted the lowest rate in the region at 4.3%.
Across Ohio, unemployment increased to 5.5% in July, compared to 5.1% in June. Nationally, the U.S. rate edged higher as well, moving from 4.4% to 4.6%.
Looking to our neighbors up North, Southeast Michigan counties mirrored the upward trend. Monroe County rose to 6.6%, up from 6.0% in June.
Lenawee County climbed to 6.3% after reporting 5.9% the previous month. Hillsdale County posted 5.4%, down slightly from 6.1% in June but still close to regional averages.