Unemployment down some in February

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

After a big jump in January, unemployment estimates in Van Wert County and statewide dropped a bit in February, according to figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Unemployment decreased in 75 of Ohio’s 88 counties, increased in seven counties, and was unchanged in six, according to the ODJFS.

After a full percentage point increase in January, from 3.8 percent in December 2015 to 4.8 percent in January, Van Wert County unemployment estimates show a decrease of two-tenths of a percent in February, to 4.6 percent.

According to workforce estimates compiled by the ODJFS, in conjunction with the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the county’s workforce increased by 100 from January, from 14,400 to 14,500 in February, while employment rose from 13,700 to 13,800, and those unemployed stayed the same at 700. The 4.6 percent unemployment rate in February is the same as it was a year ago.

In surrounding counties, Mercer County again had the lowest unemployment rate, at 3.9 percent, down from 4.0 in January, with Auglaize County right behind at 4.0 percent, down from 4.3 percent in January. Van Wert and Putnam counties tied at 4.6 percent, although Putnam County had an estimated decrease of three-tenths of a percent, from 4.9 percent in January, while Paulding and Allen counties’ unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, with Paulding County showing a decrease of three-tenths of a percent, from 5.6 percent, and Allen County’s unemployment rate decreasing two-tenths of a point in February, from January’s 5.5 percent.

Statewide, Mercer County lost its distinction as the county with Ohio’s lowest unemployment rate to Delaware County, which led the state at 3.8 percent, followed by Mercer and Holmes counties at 3.9 percent, and Auglaize County at 4.0 percent.

On the high side, Monroe County had the highest unemployment in the state at 12.9 percent, followed by Noble County, 11.0 percent; Morgan County, 10.8 percent; Meigs County, 10.2 percent; and Adams County, 10.0 percent.

The comparable unemployment rate for Ohio was 5.6 percent in February.