Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in February, down from 4.2 percent in January, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent in February.
"The sharp decline in Ohio's unemployment rate in February appears to be an aberration," said ODJFS Interim Director Jo Ann Davidson. "The federal data that is a major factor in calculating the unemployment rate contradicts our own data about unemployment claims and layoffs. There is little evidence to suggest that conditions in Ohio have improved significantly since January as the economy continues to experience a slowdown."
ODJFS analysts believe that federal survey data used to calculate the February unemployment rate is inaccurate for a variety of reasons. For example, continued Unemployment Compensation claims increased by nearly one-third compared to the same month last year, while potential layoffs showed a sharp increase. In addition, the estimate of the number of unemployed tends to fluctuate more during periods of economic transition.
The model used to calculate monthly rates indicates the number of Ohioans with jobs was 5.682 million in February, up from 5.670 million in January. The number of workers unemployed in February was 221,000, declining from 247,000 in January. The February unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 4.3 percent in February 2000. Over the year, the number of Ohioans working has increased by 182,000, up from 5.500 million. The number unemployed has decreased by 24,000 over the year from 245,000.
Ohio County Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Among the state's 88 counties, the February 2001 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 1.9 percent in Delaware County to a high of 17.7 percent in Morgan County. Rates decreased in most of the counties. County rates are not seasonally adjusted. The comparable unadjusted rate for the State of Ohio was 4.3 percent for February. Seasonal adjustment is used to remove fluctuations in unemployment and labor trends that normally occur with changes of the season (see "Concepts and Methodology" at http://lmi.state.oh.us/LAUS/LAUS-Concepts.htm for more details).
Eight counties had unemployment rates below 3.2 percent in February. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Delaware, were: Franklin County, (2.4 percent); Holmes, (2.7); Union, (2.8); Clinton and Madison, (2.9); and Fairfield and Warren, (3.1).
Nine counties had unemployment rates at or above 8.5 percent during February. The counties with the highest rates, other than Morgan, were: Vinton County, (15.7 percent); Adams, (11.4); Pike, (10.0); Hocking, (9.4); Jackson and Meigs, (8.9); Huron, (8.8); and Perry, (8.5).
Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment rose 9,200 over the month, from 5,655,100 in January to 5,664,300 in February, according to the latest establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.
Service producers gained 9,800 jobs during the month to 4,320,300. An increase in education employment, largely public state and local institutions (2,900), and other local government (1,900) accounted for most of the 5,700 increase in government employment. Retail trade advanced 2,300 as gains in general merchandise stores and food stores outweighed a loss in eating and drinking places. Services added 2,100 jobs, while finance, insurance, and real estate rose 100. Small decreases occurred in wholesale trade (-300) and transportation and public utilities (-100). Employment in goods-producing industries dropped 600 over the month to 1,344,000. Manufacturing dropped 1,600 due mainly to losses in transportation equipment, rubber and miscellaneous plastics products, and industrial machinery and equipment. Construction was up 1,100, while mining declined 100.
Over the year, nonagricultural wage and salary employment expanded by 42,300 jobs. The improvement occurred in the service-producing sector. In services, up 24,200, significant growth was reported in business, health and social services. Government was up 13,400, largely due to gains in local education. Other service-producing industries that advanced were wholesale trade (+7,600), retail trade (+2,400), finance, insurance, and real estate (+1,300), and transportation and public utilities (+400). Employment in goods-producing industries was down 6,900 over the year. The loss was concentrated in manufacturing. The largest declines were in fabricated metal products, industrial machinery and equipment, primary metal industries, and rubber and miscellaneous plastics products. Construction was up 12,600 with gains among all component sectors. Mining declined 400 over the year.
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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 (LAUS) 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 Civilian Labor Force Estimates publication. Updated statewide historical data may be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Labor Market Information at (614) 466-1109. March unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data will be released by ODJFS on Friday, April 20. This information is also available at http://jfs.ohio.gov/. A complete list of monthly release dates for 2001 is available at http://lmi.state.oh.us under LAUS Current Labor Force Estimates.
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