Ohio unemployment rate decreases to 5 percent, a 13-year low; number of jobless workers drops

Unemployment in Ohio dropped to 5 percent in November, down from 5.3 percent a month earlier and hitting its lowest level since 2001, the state reported Friday.

The state had 287,000 unemployed workers in November, down 18,000 compared to October, according to the Department of Job and Family Services. The number of unemployed workers has dropped by 130,000 in the past year.

Ohio's rate remains lower than the U.S. unemployment rate, which for November was unchanged from October at 5.8 percent, and down from 7.0 percent in November 2013.

Ohio's unemployment rate in November 2013 was 7.2 percent.

Ohio's unemployment rate had held steady at 5.7 percent in July and August, then dropped to 5.6 percent for September.

Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 17,900 over the month, from a revised 5.31 million in October to 5.32 million in November, according to the latest business survey by the U.S. Department of Labor and the state.

Jobs in goods-producing industries increased to 878,800, thanks to gains in manufacturing — 4,400 jobs — and mining and logging, an increase of 300.

The construction sector declined by 500 jobs, while the service sector added 15,200 jobs to grow to 3.7 million, the state said.

Job gains in the leisure and hospitality industries — an increase of 6,100 — and professional and business services — up 4,100 — outweighed a drop of 1,000 jobs in the educational and health services industries, according to Friday's report.

Overall, government employment decreased by 1,100 jobs, with losses in local government positions of 2,400 outweighing job gains of 700 in the federal government and 600 in state government.

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Online: http://jfs.ohio.gov/RELEASES/unemp/201412/index.stm