Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in May, up from 3.9 percent in April, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent in May.
"The job market remained steady in May, with only modest fluctuations in employment across industries," said ODJFS Interim Director Greg Moody. "Changes in service sector employment are largely related to normal seasonal factors, particularly the end of the school year. Manufacturing changed little over the month but the job market remains weak in this sector, given the economic slowdown since last November."
In recent months, the department's labor market analysts have questioned the accuracy of the labor force estimates, particularly in an economy experiencing divergent trends. The analysts specifically noted the calculated state unemployment rate did not fully reflect the hardships faced by individuals and businesses in the manufacturing sector since January 2001. Although there are still challenges involved in capturing the current economic trends in a singular number such as the unemployment rate, department analysts believe the May figure does more accurately reflect the state's economic climate.
The number of Ohioans with jobs was 5.654 million in May, down from 5.672 in April. The number of workers unemployed in May was 233,000, unchanged from April.
The May unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 4.1 percent in May 2000. Over the year, the number of Ohioans working has increased by 144,000, up from 5.510 million. The number of unemployed has decreased by 4,000 over the year from 237,000.
Ohio County Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Among the state's 88 counties, the May 2001 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 1.6 percent in Delaware County to a high of 14.5 percent in Morgan County. Rates decreased in more than two-thirds of the counties. The comparable rate for Ohio for May was 3.6 percent.
Eight counties had unemployment rates below 2.5 percent in May. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Delaware were: Union County, (1.9 percent); Madison, (2.1); Clinton, Fairfield, Franklin and Holmes, (2.2); and Geauga, (2.3).
Nine counties had unemployment rates at or above 5.8 percent during May. The counties with the highest rates, other than Morgan were: Vinton County, (9.6 percent); Adams, (8.0); Pike, (6.7); Huron and Meigs, (6.4); Perry, (6.2); Jackson and Scioto, (5.8).
Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment fell 15,500 over the month to 5,636,600 in May 2001 according to the latest survey conducted by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Service-producing industries declined 11,000 to 4,306,900. Scattered losses in most sectors, especially engineering and management services, educational services, and business services, lowered services employment 6,500. Government was down 4,300 due to reductions in state education. Retail trade, wholesale trade, and finance, insurance, and real estate were also lower. Transportation and public utilities were up over the month. Employment in goods-producing industries dropped 4,500 over the month to 1,329,700. Manufacturing was down 2,800 with notable declines in primary metal industries, transportation equipment, and industrial machinery and equipment. Losses among general building contractors and special trade contractors were partially offset by gains in heavy construction, except building, reducing construction employment 1,700. Mining was fractionally lower.
Over the year, nonagricultural wage and salary employment dropped 4,000 jobs. Reductions in the goods-producing sector were responsible for the change. Manufacturing was down 26,600 due to losses in industrial machinery and equipment, fabricated metal products, primary metal industries, transportation equipment, printing and publishing, and rubber and miscellaneous plastics products. Construction rose 4,300, while mining slipped 300. Service-producing industries were up 18,500 over the year. Services added 18,200 jobs with the largest increases in health services and business services. Small-to-moderate gains were also reported in wholesale trade, finance, insurance, and real estate, retail trade, and transportation and public utilities. Government declined 6,200 from May 2000. The loss of temporary workers from the 2000 Census was tempered by growth in local government.
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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. June unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data will be released by ODJFS on Friday, July 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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