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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.5 percent in October, up from 10.1 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 increased 1,400 over the month, from 5,097,000 in September to 5,098,400 in October.

"Ohio's labor market continued to show weakness in October," ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin said. "The unemployment rate increased to 10.5 percent as more Ohioans were unemployed and seeking work while the number of goods-producing and service providing jobs increased slightly."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in October was 618,000, up from 594,000 in September. The number of unemployed has increased by 209,000 in the past 12 months from 409,000. The October unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 6.9 percent in October 2008.

The U.S. unemployment rate for October was 10.2 percent, up from 9.8 percent in September.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment totaled 5,098,400 in October, up 1,400 from September, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Service-providing employment, at 4,293,600, advanced 2,200. Gains were posted in professional and business services (+6,800), trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,900), and other services (+900). Financial activities (-2,200), information (-1,800), leisure and hospitality (-1,400), government ( 1,300), and educational and health services (-700) declined over the month. Employment in goods-producing industries decreased 800 to 804,800. Construction lost 500 jobs. A reduction in nondurable goods (-700) was partially offset by an increase in durable goods (+400), lowering manufacturing employment 300. Mining and logging was little changed.

Over the past 12 months, nonfarm payroll employment dropped 243,200. Goods-producing industries were 142,800 lower. Manufacturing was down 111,800 due to losses in durable goods ( 94,700) and nondurable goods (-17,100). Construction dropped 30,700, while mining and logging slipped 300. Declines in most sectors reduced service-providing employment 100,400. Decreases were noted in trade, transportation, and utilities (-40,600), professional and business services ( 34,800), financial activities (-12,200), information (-9,300), leisure and hospitality (-5,900), government (-5,000), and other services (-3,300). Educational and health services rose 10,700.

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) 752-9494. Ohioans can access tens of thousands of job openings, for positions ranging from file clerks to CEOs, at www.ohiomeansjobs.com.

News release dates

A calendar of 2009 release dates is available online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/releases.htm County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for October 2009 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. November 2009 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, December 18, 2009. 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.