County unemployment rate higher in Nov.

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Unemployment was mostly up in Ohio, with 81 of the state’s 88 counties reporting increases in unemployment, according to estimates released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

In Van Wert County, the jobless rate increased four-tenths of a percent, from 3.5 percent in October to 3.9 percent last month. Figures compiled by the ODJFS, in conjunction with the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, show the workforce down by 100 (14,500 to 14,400), while county residents employed decreased by 200 (14,000 to 13,800). The number of people unemployed in the county was estimated at 600 people, versus 500 in October.

In rankings of counties across the state, Van Wert County had the 18th lowest unemployment rate among Ohio’s 88 counties.

Van Wert and surrounding counties, with one exception, were below Ohio’s estimated unemployment rate of 4.4 percent. The exception was Paulding County, which saw its jobless rate increase six-tenths of a percent, to 4.6 percent from 4.0 percent in October.

Mercer County had the lowest unemployment rate in the area at 3.1 percent, up from 2.8 percent in October, but lost its distinction as the county with the lowest unemployment rate to two northeast Ohio counties. Geauga and Medina counties each had unemployment rates of 3.0 percent to lead the state.

In the area, Auglaize and Putnam counties had the second lowest unemployment rate at 3.5 percent. Auglaize County’s jobless rate increased four-tenths of a percent, from 3.1 percent in October, while Putnam County’s unemployment rate was up three-tenths of a percent, from 3.2 percent two months ago.

Van Wert County’s unemployment rate was fourth lowest in the area, while Allen County had the fifth-lowest unemployment in the area at 4.4 percent, up from 4.0 percent in October.

Across the state, Mercer, Auglaize, and Putnam counties were among 11 counties who had unemployment rates below 3.5 percent in November. In addition to Geauga and Medina, others with low unemployment included Delaware, Holmes, and Lake (3.3 percent); Hancock and Union (3.4 percent); and Wyandot (3.5 percent).

Seven counties had unemployment rates at or above 7 percent in November. They included Monroe County (9.7 percent), Meigs and Noble counties (7.4 percent), Jefferson and Scioto counties (7.2 percent), Adams County (7.1 percent), and Morgan County (7.0 percent).