News Release
| Bob Taft
Governor | Jacqueline Romer-Sensky Director |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 15, 2000 Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in August, unchanged from 4.2 percent in July, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1 percent for August, up slightly from 4.0 percent in July.
"The August unemployment rate of 4.2 percent continues Ohio's trend of low unemployment for the year," said ODJFS Director Jacqueline Romer-Sensky. "Over the month, employment shifts by industry sectors were minor and followed traditional patterns for July. The Ohio job market remains strong."
The number of Ohioans with jobs was 5.619 million in August, down from 5.634 million in July. The number of workers unemployed in August was 246,000, up from 245,000 in July.
The August unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 4.4 percent in August 1999. Over the year, the number of Ohioans working has increased by 109,000, up from 5.510 million. The number unemployed has decreased by 6,000 over the year from 252,000.
Ohio County Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Among the state's 88 counties, the August 2000 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 1.9 percent in Madison County to a high of 9.6 percent in Meigs County. Rates decreased in over two-thirds of the counties. The comparable rate for Ohio for August was 3.9 percent.
Ten counties had unemployment rates below 2.8 percent in August. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Madison County were: Delaware County, (2.0 percent); Franklin, Geauga, and Holmes counties, (2.4 percent); Fairfield and Pickaway counties, (2.5 percent); Union County, (2.6 percent); and Logan and Putnam counties, (2.7 percent).
Eight counties had unemployment rates at or above 7.0 percent during August. The counties with the highest rates, other than Meigs County were: Adams and Monroe counties, (9.5 percent); Morgan County, (9.4 percent); Vinton County, (8.8 percent); Scioto County, (8.3 percent); and Hocking and Lawrence counties, (7.9 percent).
Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment rose 6,600 over the month, from 5,588,600 in July 2000 to 5,595,200 in August 2000, according to the latest survey conducted by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Service-producing industries were up 8,800 from July. Increases in business and health services helped to raise employment in services 2,900. Government advanced 2,600 due in part to gains in state education. Growth was also noted in retail trade, transportation and public utilities, and finance, insurance, and real estate. Wholesale trade slipped fractionally. Among goods producers, manufacturing dropped 1,200. Declines in transportation equipment, electronic and other electric equipment, and stone, clay, and glass products were partially offset by gains in primary metal industries, rubber and miscellaneous plastics products, fabricated metal products, and food and kindred products. Scattered decreases lowered construction 1,000, while mining was virtually unchanged.
Over the year, nonagricultural wage and salary employment expanded by 33,700 jobs. Improvements in the service-producing sector (+42,800) were responsible for the change. In services, up 19,100, noteworthy growth was reported in business services and health services. Growth in local education helped boost government employment 10,800. Other divisions with increased employment were transportation and public utilities (+4,500), finance, insurance, and real estate (+4,200), wholesale trade (+3,500), and retail trade (+800). Among goods-producers (-9,200), employment in manufacturing fell 9,800. The largest declines occurred in transportation equipment (-6,800), primary metal industries (-3,100), and industrial machinery and equipment (-2,800). Small gains occurred in fabricated metal products, lumber and wood products, furniture and fixtures, food and kindred products, and printing and publishing. Growth among special trade contractors helped boost construction 1,400. Mining employment declined 700 over the year.
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For more information contact: Jon Allen, 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). Attached are monthly statistical summaries of the information presented above. 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 Labor Force Estimates publication. Updated statewide historical data may be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Labor Market Information at (614) 466-1109. September unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data will be released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) on Friday, October 20, 2000. This information is also available at http://jfs.ohio.gov
To view the county unemployment rates in Ohio for the current month, please choose one of the following links: