Unemployment rate falls to single digits

For the first time in more than two years, unemployment in Van Wert County was back in the single digits, but the figures make it difficult to say whether the decrease is much more than statistics.

According to March figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the county’s unemployment rate was at 9.5 percent — down eight-tenths of a percent from February’s 10.3 percent.

Civilian labor force estimates show no increase in employment in the county, with 12,800 people still employed. However, the workforce dropped another 100 people, while the number unemployed also dropped by the same amount.

Far from showing jobs being created in the county, the figures seem to indicate that some people have had to find jobs outside the county, while others have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are no longer counted as being unemployed, although they still don’t have jobs.

March’s figures could be seen as the beginning of a positive trend if the number of people employed shows an increase in April, along with seeing a decrease in the number of people counted as unemployed.

Among the state’s 88 counties, the March 2011 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 6.2 percent in Delaware County to a high of 16.3 percent in Ottawa County. Rates decreased in all 88 counties. In March, the comparable rate for Ohio was 9.0 percent, (click here for a larger map).

Eleven counties had unemployment rates at or below 8.0 percent in March. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Delaware were: Holmes and Mercer, 6.4; Union, 7.2; Franklin, 7.5; Geauga and Medina, 7.6; Hancock, 7.7; Auglaize, 7.9; and Fairfield and Lawrence, 8.0 percent.

Four counties had unemployment rates at or above 14.0 percent during March. The counties with the highest rates, other than Ottawa, were: Pike, 15.5; Meigs, 14.1; and Morgan, 14.0 percent.

In addition to Mercer County, other neighboring counties also saw decreases in their unemployment for March. Auglaize County dropped from 8.5 percent to 7.9 percent, Putnam County fell from 9.6 to 8.5, Allen County’s jobless rate decreased from 10.4 percent to 9.6 percent, while Paulding County saw a decrease in its unemployment rate from 10.3 to 9.6 percent.