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

Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in October, unchanged from the September rate, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 6,800 over the month, from 5,436,300 in September to 5,429,500 in October.

"Ohio's labor market held steady in October," ODJFS Director Helen Jones-Kelley said. "Total employment declined slightly with losses in both goods-producing and service-providing industries."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in October was 352,000, down from 355,000 in September. The number of unemployed has increased by 25,000 in the past 12 months from 327,000. The October unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.5 percent in October 2006.

The U.S. unemployment rate for October was 4.7 percent, also unchanged from September.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment totaled 5,429,500 in October, down 6,800 from September, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Employment among service providers decreased 4,900 to 4,410,700. Most of the decline occurred in government (-3,300) and leisure and hospitality (-2,000). Smaller decreases occurred in trade, transportation and utilities ( 1,200), other services (-600), educational and health services (-300), and information (-100). Professional and business services rose 2,200, while financial activities added 400 jobs. Goods-producing employment fell 1,900 to 1,018,800. Losses in nondurable goods ( 1,200) and durable goods (-800) reduced manufacturing employment 2,000. Natural resources and mining gained 100 jobs. Construction was little changed from September.

Over the past 12 months, nonfarm payroll employment dropped 11,500. The decrease was seen in goods-producing industries, down 16,400. Losses were concentrated in durable-goods manufacturing (-12,700). Nondurable-goods employment fell 3,700. A decline of 300 in natural resources and mining was offset by a gain of 300 in construction. Service-providing industries advanced 4,900 over the year. All of the growth occurred in educational and health services (+10,500) and professional and business services (+4,300). Employment declined in financial activities (-3,600), government ( 2,100), information (-1,600), leisure and hospitality ( 1,400), other services (-900), and trade, transportation and utilities (-300).

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 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 2007 release dates is available online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/releases.htm. County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for October 2007 will be posted online at http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, November 20, 2007. November 2007 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, December 21, 2007. 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.