Unemployment stagnant across Ohio

VW independent/ODJFS information

While the state’s unemployment rate decreased somewhat in May, many individual counties saw little or no change in their jobless situation, according to figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

That was especially true of Van Wert and its five surrounding counties. Only two counties, Allen and Putnam saw decreases in unemployment during the month of May. Allen County’s jobless rate decreased two-tenths of a percent, from 5.4 percent in April to 5.2 percent in May, while Putnam County’s unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a percent, from 4.4 percent in April to 4.1 percent last month. Van Wert (4.6 percent) and the other three counties – Mercer (3.0 percent), Auglaize (3.6 percent) and Paulding (4.6 percent) – all remained the same in May as in April.

In Van Wert County, civilian labor force numbers changed slightly from April to May, according to estimates developed in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The county’s total workforce increased by 100, from 13,500 to 13,600, while those employed also rose 100, from 12,900 to 13,000. The number of people unemployed stayed the same, at 600 people.

Across the state, 55 counties saw decreased unemployment, while 13 counties saw their jobless percentage increase and 20 counties’ unemployment percentage remained unchanged.

Six Ohio counties, led by Mercer County, had unemployment rates at or below 4.0 percent. The others included Holmes (3.5 percent), Auglaize (3.6 percent), Delaware (3.7 percent), Union (3.9 percent) and Hancock (4.0 percent).

In addition, six counties had unemployment rates at or above 7.5 percent in May. Those include Monroe (10.8 percent), Pike (8.4 percent), Meigs (7.9 percent), Scioto and Morgan (7.7 percent) and Jefferson (7.5 percent).