Ohio Unemployment Rate Down Slighty in December

Ohio’s unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in December , down slightly from 6.8 percent in November, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). The rate decrease comes from people leaving the available workforce, not because of more people finding jobs.

Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 9,400 over the month from the revised 5,194,400 in November to 5,185,000 in December.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in December was 388,000, down from 391,000 in November.  The number of unemployed has decreased by 70,000 in the past 12 months from 458,000.  The December unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 7.9 percent in December 2011.

The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 7.8 percent, unchanged from November, and down from 8.5 percent in December 2011.

The local rate for Marion County is expected to be released next week.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 9,400 over the month, from a revised 5,194,400 in November to 5,185,000 in December, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) in cooperation with ODJFS.

Employment in service-providing industries, at 4,336,000, dropped 10,400 over the month.  Job losses occurred in leisure and hospitality (-4,900), government (-2,100), other services (-1,500), and financial activities (-1,300). Smaller declines were noted in trade, transportation, and utilities (-400), educational and health services (-400), and information (-200).  Professional and business services added 400 jobs.  Goods-producing industries, at 849,000, gained 1,000 jobs from November.  Manufacturing and construction added 900 and 100 jobs respectively.  Mining and logging employment remained unchanged over the month.

From December 2011 to December 2012, nonagricultural wage and salary employment rose by 90,700.  Service-providing industries added 70,100 jobs.  Gains were seen in educational and health services (+25,200), trade, transportation, and utilities (+16,800), professional and business services (+15,400), financial activities (+7,100), leisure and hospitality (+5,100), and other services (+4,600).  Over-the-year declines were posted in government (-2,800) and information (-1,300).  Goods-producing industries increased 20,600.  Manufacturing gained 15,300 jobs through increases in durable goods (+8,700) and nondurable goods (+6,600).  Construction added 6,100 jobs.  Mining and logging employment decreased 800.

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