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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in September, up from 5.7 percent in August, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 2,600 over the month, from 5,441,500 in August to 5,438,900 in September.

"Ohio's unemployment rate rose in September as hiring remained sluggish," ODJFS Director Helen Jones-Kelley said. "A small gain in goods-producing employment in September was offset by declines in the service sector."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in September was 355,000, up from 337,000 in August. The number of unemployed has increased by 27,000 in the past 12 months from 328,000. The September unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.5 percent in September 2006.

The U.S. unemployment rate for September was 4.7 percent, up slightly from the August rate of 4.6 percent.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment fell 2,600 over the month, from 5,441,500 in August to 5,438,900 in September, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS. Service-providing industries, at 4,418,500, were down 3,500 from August. The largest decline occurred in professional and business services (-3,600). Also down were educational and health services (-3,400), leisure and hospitality (-1,400), and other services (-700). Government rose 3,300 as nonteaching personnel returned to state and local education. Smaller gains were noted in trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,700), financial activities (+500), and information (+100). Goods-producing industries rose 900 to 1,020,400. Increases in durable-goods employment boosted manufacturing 700, while construction advanced 300. Natural resources and mining slipped 100.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment rose 700. Service-providing industries were up 12,600 from September 2006. Notable increases were seen in educational and health services (+9,200), professional and business services (+4,800), and government (+3,500). Trade, transportation, and utilities rose 800. Financial activities declined 3,700 over the year. Also down were information (-1,000), leisure and hospitality (-900), and other services (-100). Goods-producing industries fell 11,900 over the year. Declines of 12,600 in manufacturing and 200 in natural resources and mining were partially offset by a gain of 900 in construction.

For more information contact ODJFS Communications, (614) 466-6650.

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 2007 release dates is available online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/releases.htm. County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for September 2007 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, October 23, 2007. October 2007 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, November 16, 2007. 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.