County’s jobless rate among lowest

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Van Wert County had the state’s ninth lowest unemployment rate in May, according to figures released on Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The monthly rankings show the county’s jobless rate was just 2.5 percent, tying it for ninth lowest with Paulding, Wayne, Shelby, Preble and Logan counties. It’s a decrease from last month, when Van Wert County’s unemployment rate was 2.7 percent and far lower than May, 2025, when it was 4.1 percent.

The statewide average was 3.0 percent and no surrounding counties were above that. Allen County matched the state’s average, while Putnam County came in at 2.3 percent, good for fifth lowest in Ohio, along with Wyandot County. Auglaize County was at 2.2 percent, which was tied with third lowest with Union County, while Mercer County’s May unemployment rate was 2.1 percent, second lowest in Ohio.

Holmes County, in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country, had the state’s lowest jobless rate in May, 2.0 percent. Overall, 14 counties had unemployment rates at or below 2.5 percent in May. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Holmes County were: Mercer, 2.1 percent; Auglaize and Union, 2.2 percent; Putnam and Wyandot, 2.3 percent; Delaware and Madison, 2.4 percent, and Logan, Paulding, Preble, Shelby, Van Wert, and Wayne, 2.5 percent.

Trumbull County had the state’s highest unemployment rate last month, 4.1 percent. 10 counties had unemployment rates at or above 3.5 percent in May. The counties with the highest rates, other than Trumbull were: Lucas, 3.9 percent; Mahoning, Pike and Scioto 3.8 percent; Meigs and Monroe, 3.7 percent; Noble, 3.6 percent, and Jefferson and Ross, 3.5 percent.

According to ODJFS, unemployment rates decreased in 78 counties last month, increased in six counties and were unchanged in four counties.