The unemployment rate for Marion County dropped by a half percent in May 2012 to 7.4 percent down from 7.9 percent in April. The rate shows a large improvement from a year ago when it stood at 9.5 percent. The rate decrease comes even as an additional 100 people entered the local workforce.
While the local workforce increased from April to May, the improvement from a year ago is caused in part because of a decrease in the workforce, or fewer people looking for work in Marion County. The official available workforce was 30,500 in May 2011, but has shrunk to 29,600 in May 2012. Even considering that change, the reduction in the employment rate is still large.
Other counties surround Marion saw similar decreases in their rates, with Delaware County dipping to 4.9 percent.
County – May-12 – Apr-12 – May-11
Crawford – 8.4 – 9.0 – 11.5
Delaware – 4.9 – 5.1 – 5.8
Hardin – 7.2 – 7.5 – 9.5
Marion – 7.4 – 7.9 – 9.5
Morrow – 6.9 – 7.5 – 9.3
Union – 5.2 – 5.3 – 7.1
Wyandot – 7.0 – 7.7 – 10.4
Ohio's statewide unemployment rate was 7.3 percent in May, down from 7.4 percent in April. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 19,600 over the month. The May unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 8.8 percent in May 2011.
The U.S. unemployment rate for May was 8.2 percent, up from 8.1 percent in April, but down from 9.0 percent in May 2011.
Click here to view rates from all 88 Ohio counties.
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