Local unemployment drifts upward in June

VW independent/ODJFS information

It must be a case of the summer doldrums. After a month that saw no change in unemployment in May, Van Wert County followed a statewide trend of slight increases in the jobless rate in June, according to figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The county’s unemployment rate was up four-tenths of a percent in June, from 4.5 percent in May to 4.9 percent this past month, according to ODJFS figures.

According to workforce numbers compiled by the state, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the county saw significant increases in both its total workforce, and the number of people employed during June. The total workforce was up to 14,000, from 13,600 in May, while those employed totaled 13,300, versus 13,000 even in May. Those unemployed also increased slightly in June, from 600 in May to 700 last month.

Statewide, 85 counties saw an increase in their unemployment rate, with Mercer County having the lowest unemployment at 3.3 percent, up from 3.0 percent last month. Other area counties also saw increases in unemployment for June. Auglaize County’s jobless rate jumped from May’s 3.6 percent to 4.0 percent in June, while Putnam County went from 4.1 percent in May to 4.4 percent last month. Paulding County’s unemployment rose from 4.6 percent in May to 5.1 percent in June, while Allen County had the highest area unemployment rate at 5.6 percent, up from 5.2 percent in May.

Statewide, Monroe County had the highest unemployment rate at 11.7 percent. Other counties with unemployment above 8 percent included Meigs (8.9 percent), Pike (8.7 percent), Morgan (8.6 percent), and Scioto (8.3 percent).

In addition to Mercer, Auglaize and Putnam, counties with unemployment at or below 4.5 percent included Holmes (3.9 percent), Delaware (4.1 percent), Union (4.4 percent), and Hancock (4.5 percent). The comparable rate for Ohio was 5.9 percent in June.