By: Chelsie Firestone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
With unemployment rates below 4.0%, both Williams and Fulton Counties are seeing the lowest rates they have seen in years, according to information released by Job and Family Services on September 22. It is a trend that can also be seen in the statewide and U.S. unemployment rates.
Williams County had an unemployment rate at 3.7% and Fulton County a rate of 3.9% in August. The statewide rate was 4.7%, down from 5.0% in July and from 5.4% one year ago. The national unemployment rate at 5.1% in August, is down from 5.3% in July and 6.2% one year ago.
The number of unemployed in Ohio fell from 268,000 in July to 265,000 in August. The total unemployed reached 310,000 one year ago.
Job gains in the last month were seen in professional and business (+5700); trade, transportation and utilities (+5300), leisure and hospitality (+2900), construction (+2700), financial activities (+1700), other services (+1000), and education and health services (+200). Losses were seen in manufacturing (-2300), local government (-1600), information services (-300), federal government (-300), state government (-300), and mining and logging (-100).
All of Ohio’s 88 counties saw their unemployment rates drop over the month. Those counties with the lowest rates included Mercer (2.7%), Holmes (2.9%), Delaware (3.0%), Auglaize (3.1%), Wyandot (3.1%), Hancock (3.2%), Madison (3.3%), Putnam (3.3%), Union (3.3%), Wayne (3.4%), Darke (3.5%), Logan (3.5%), and Warren (3.5%). Those with the highest rates included Monroe (8.3%), Meigs (7.0%), Adams (6.8%), Jefferson (6.5%), and Scioto (6.5%).
Ohioans wishing to learn more about unemployment benefits or who are in search of a job can visit www.ohiomeansjobs.com. The information in this article and the monthly statistical analysis it is based upon are also available at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ocomm.
Chelsie can be reached at
chelsie@thevillagereporter.com
