Ohio jobless figures lowest in 6 years

VW independent/ODJFS information

Ohio’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in March 2014, down from 6.5 percent in February, according to data released Friday morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). That’s the lowest rate for Ohio since the recession began in 2008.

Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 600 over the month, 5,282,300 in February to 5,282,900 in March.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in March was 353,000, down 24,000 from 377,000 in February. The number of unemployed has decreased by 68,000 in the past 12 months from 421,000. The March unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 7.3 percent in March 2013.

The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 6.7 percent, unchanged from February, and down from 7.5 percent in March 2013.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 600 over the month, from a revised 5,282,300 in February to 5,282,900 in March, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) in cooperation with ODJFS.

Goods-producing industries, at 873,800, added 1,000 jobs from February.

Gains in construction (+4,600) were partially offset by losses in manufacturing (-3,500) and mining and logging (-100). The private service-providing sector, at 3,658,900, increased 2,800.

Job gains were seen in leisure and hospitality (+4,800), professional and business services (+3,200), and educational and health services (+2,400).

Losses occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,900), other services (-1,600), financial activities (-900), and information (-200).

Government employment, at 750,200, decreased 3,200. Local and federal government lost 3,500 and 100 jobs respectively, while state government added 400 jobs.