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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.3 percent in October, up slightly from 7.2 percent in September, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 9,000 over the month, from 5,402,600 in September, to 5,393,600 in October.

"Ohio's labor market continued to reflect a weakening national economy," ODJFS Assistant Director Sherry Keys-Hebron said. "Job losses occurred in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries as the unemployment rate increased slightly to 7.3 percent."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in October was 435,000, up from 433,000 in September. The number of unemployed has increased by 91,000 in the past 12 months from 344,000.

The October unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.7 percent in October 2007.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment totaled 5,393,600 in October, down 9,000 from September, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Employment in goods-producing industries decreased 6,100 to 981,200. Losses in durable goods (-3,200) and nondurable goods (-800) reduced manufacturing employment 4,000. Construction lost 2,000 jobs, while natural resources and mining slipped 100. Service-providing employment, at 4,412,400, fell 2,900. Declines occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,200), professional and business services (-1,800), and leisure and hospitality (-600). Growth in local government boosted government 1,800. Also up were educational and health services (+800), financial activities (+600), information (+300), and other services (+200).

Over the past 12 months, nonfarm payroll employment dropped 17,300. The decrease was seen in goods-producing industries, down 20,500. Manufacturing fell 12,500 due to losses in durable goods (-11,200). Construction showed a significant decline of 8,200. Natural resources and mining rose 200. Service-providing industries advanced 3,200 over the year. The growth occurred in educational and health services (+9,000), leisure and hospitality (+3,000), and professional and business services (+700). Sectors with declining employment were trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,700), other services (-1,600), government (-1,300), financial activities (-1,000), and information (-900).

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 October 2008 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, November 25, 2008. November 2008 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, December 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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