State unemployment rate down again

Van Wert independent/ODJFS information

Ohio’s unemployment rate was 9.6 percent in December, down from 9.8 percent in November, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 9,100 over the month, from the revised 5,012,000 in November to 5,002,900 in December.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in December was 567,000, down from 580,000 in November. The number of unemployed has decreased by 71,000 in the past 12 months from 638,000. The December unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 10.8 percent in December 2009. The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 9.4 percent, down from 9.8 percent in November.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio’s nonfarm payroll employment dropped 9,100 over the month, from 5,012,000 in November to 5,002,900 in December, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.
Goods-producing industries, at 795,900, were down 7,300 from November. Construction decreased 4,200 and manufacturing decreased 3,200, outweighing a modest gain of 100 in mining and logging. Service-providing industries decreased 1,800 to 4,207,000.

The largest decline occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (-7,500). The educational and health services sector also decreased, losing 1,300 jobs over the month. Industries experiencing growth included other services (+2,200), leisure and hospitality (+1,900), professional and business services (+1,400), government (+1,000), and financial activities (+500). The information sector remained at the November level.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment advanced 4,500. Goods-producing industries added 4,800 jobs. The most notable gain occurred in manufacturing (+12,000) as a 13,100 gain in durable goods outweighed a 1,100 decline in nondurable goods. Mining and logging also experienced growth (+600), but construction lost 7,800 jobs over the year.

Service-providing industries decreased 300 from December 2009. Losses occurred in financial activities ( 10,000), trade, transportation, and utilities (-7,700), government (-7,600), information (-3,500), and other services (-2,000). Professional and business services (+15,000), educational and health services (+9,700), and leisure and hospitality (+5,800) increased over the year.