The unemployment rate for Marion County took a big dip to 8.5 percent from 9.3 percent in February. While the rate is a large improvement from a year ago when it stood at 10.2 percent in March 2011, it is partially related to fewer people looking for work in the area.
Marion County had a reported available workforce of 30,400 in Marion 2011. Last month, that number had dipped by 900 people to 29,500. Even so, the number of unemployed workers dropped by 600 during that same period.
That is the same issue affecting the State ofOhio's unemployment rate. The statewide rate was 7.5 percent in March, down from 7.6 percent in February.
Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment fell 9,500 over the month, from the revised 5,146,500 in February to 5,137,000 in March. The March unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 8.8 percent in March 2011.
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in March was 438,000, down from 443,000 in February. The number of unemployed has decreased by 73,000 in the past 12 months from 511,000.
The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 8.2 percent, down from 8.3 percent in February.
Looking at counties surrounding Marion, Crawford and Hardin Counties saw drops of over 1 percent. The following shows the rates for the surrounding areas.
County – Mar-12 – Feb-12 – Mar-11
Crawford – 9.7 – 10.6 – 11.3
Delaware – 5.5 – 5.8 – 6.2
Hardin – 8.1 – 9.5 – 9.7
Marion – 8.5 – 9.3 – 10.2
Morrow – 8.5 – 9.2 – 10.7
Union – 5.8 – 6.5 – 7.2
Wyandot – 5.8 – 6.5 – 7.2
The job gains and losses across the state were led by the service industry and trade, transportation, and utilities.
Service-providing industries decreased 6,900 over the month to 4,297,600. Leisure and hospitality (-5,200), educational and health services (-4,300), other services (-2,200), and government (-1,200) experienced losses. Growth occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (+6,300) and financial activities (+500). Goods-producing industries, at 839,400, were down 2,600 from February. Construction (-7,000) and mining and logging (-200) contracted. Manufacturing (+4,600) saw a month-to-month gain.
Click here to view rates from all 88 Ohio Counties.
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