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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in July, up from 6.6 percent in June. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 11,600 over the month, from 5,419,900 in June, to 5,408,300 in July.

"Ohio's labor market continued to show weakness in July," ODJFS Director Helen Jones-Kelley said. "Total employment decreased in both goods-producing and service-providing industries and the unemployment rate rose to 7.2 percent."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in July was 430,000, up from 394,000 in June. The number of unemployed has increased by 96,000 in the past 12 months from 334,000. The July unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.6 percent in July 2007.

The U.S. unemployment rate for July was 5.7 percent, up from 5.5 percent in June.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment fell 11,600 over the month, from 5,419,900 in June to 5,408,300 in July, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Employment among service providers, at 4,417,200, was down 9,100 during the period. The largest declines were in leisure and hospitality ( 3,000) and trade, transportation, and utilities (-2,500). A reduction in state government helped lower government employment 1,300. Also down were professional and business services (-1,000), financial activities (-700), educational and health services (-300), and other services (-300). Information was unchanged over the month. Goods-producing industries dropped 2,500 to 991,100. Construction employment dropped 1,500. Losses in durable goods reduced manufacturing 900. Natural resources and mining slipped 100.

Over the past 12 months, nonfarm payroll employment fell 13,300. Goods-producing industries were 10,900 lower. Construction lost 5,700 jobs. Manufacturing declined 5,600 due to losses in nondurable goods (-3,300) and durable goods (-2,300). Natural resources and mining advanced 400. Service-providing industries dropped 2,400 over the year. The largest decreases were in trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,700) and government (-3,700). Employment was also lower in information (-2,000), financial activities (-1,800), and other services (-1,800). Educational and health services rose 10,200 over the year. Smaller gains were noted in professional and business services (+1,100) and leisure and hospitality (+300).

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 2008 release dates is available online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/releases.htm County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for July 2008 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, August 19, 2008. August 2008 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, September 19, 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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