COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.5% in July, up from 4.4% in June, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said Friday.
Ohio’s nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2,200 during the month, from a revised 5,667,500 in June to 5,669,700 in July.
The number of unemployed workers in Ohio was 264,000 in July, up from 254,000 in June. The number of unemployed has increased by 67,000 over the past 12 months, from 197,000. The unemployment rate for Ohio increased by 1.1 percentage points in July, from 3.4% in July 2023.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% in July, up from 4.1% in June and 3.5% in July 2023.
In July, Ohio’s labor force participation rate was 62.3%, up from 62.1% in June and 61.9% in July 2023. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 62.7%, up from 62.6% in June and 62.6% in July 2023.
Employment in goods production rose by 2,300 to 942,500, with gains in construction and manufacturing outweighing losses in mining and forestry. The private services sector rose by 1,100 to 3,940,900, as gains in private education and health services, other services, and trade, transportation, and utilities outpaced losses in professional and business services and financial services. Employment in leisure, hospitality, and information was unchanged during the month. Public sector employment fell by 1,200 to 786,300, with losses in local and state government outpacing gains in state government.
From July 2023 to July 2024, the number of nonfarm wage and salary earners increased by 44,500. Employment in goods producing industries increased by 6,300, led by construction, which added 8,300 jobs. Manufacturing lost 2,000 jobs as declines in durable goods outweighed gains in nondurable goods. Employment in mining and forestry was unchanged over the year. Private services employment increased by 36,400 as gains in private education and health services, other services, recreation and hospitality, and professional and business services exceeded losses in financial activities, trade, transportation and utilities, and information. Public services employment increased by 1,800 as gains in federal and state government agencies exceeded losses in local government.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
