County unemployment rate rises

Van Wert independent/ODJFS information

For the first time since January, unemployment rates in Van Wert County rose in June. The county wasn’t alone, though, since all but four Ohio counties saw increases in the jobless rate during the month.

Locally, county workforce estimates decreased 100 people, from 14,400 to 14,300, while those employed decreased 200 people and those unemployed increased by 100 people. The 9.9 percent jobless rate compares to 9.2 percent in May, while the new unemployment figures are better than that of a year ago, when the jobless rate was 11.6 percent.

Among the state’s 88 counties, the June 2011 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 6.6 percent in Delaware, Geauga, and Mercer Counties to a high of 15.4 percent in Pike County. In June, the comparable rate for Ohio was 9.2 percent (click here for a larger statewide unemployment map).

Seven counties had unemployment rates below 8.0 percent in June. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Delaware, Geauga, and Mercer were: Holmes, 6.8; Medina, 7.0; Lake, 7.4, and Erie, 7.7 percent.

Twelve counties had unemployment rates at or above 12.0 percent during June. The counties with the highest rates, other than Pike, were: Meigs, 14.2; Clinton, 14.1; Highland, 13.4; Adams, 13.0; Morgan and Noble, 12.7; Crawford, 12.6; Scioto, 12.5; Muskingum, 12.2; and Vinton and Coshocton, 12.0 percent.

Counties that neighbor Van Wert County had similar increases in unemployment percentage, with Mercer County one of the state’s three lowest counties in unemployment, but still up seven-tenths of a point over May’s 5.9 percent. Other neighboring counties and their jobless percentage (May figures in parentheses) include Auglaize, 8.2 (7.6), Allen 10.2 (9.5), Paulding 9.6 (9.3), and Putnam 8.8 (8.2).