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VW jobless rate hike follows state trend

VW independent/ODJFS information

After several months of declining unemployment, jobless rates have increased a bit the last two months in Van Wert County – and across much of Ohio – including a fourth-tenths of a percent jump in July, according to figures released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Jobless Rate Map 7-2014The county’s unemployment rate in July jumped to 5.3 percent, from 4.9 percent in June. In turn, June’s rate was another four-tenths of a percent higher than May’s rate of 4.5 percent.

According to figures compiled by the ODJFS, in conjunction with the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, Van Wert County’s workforce increased by 100 in July, while the number of people employed stayed the same at 13,300. That means 100 more people were unemployed during the month, according to the ODJFS figures.

Neighboring counties either remained the same or saw jobless rates increase. Mercer County was the only county where unemployment remained the same, at 3.3 percent. Auglaize County’s jobless rate was up a tenth of a percent, from 4.0 percent in June to 4.1 percent in July, while Putnam County’s unemployment jumped six-tenths of a percent – the largest increase in the area – from 4.4 percent two months ago to 5.0 percent in July.

Paulding County went up a tenth of a percent, from 5.1 percent in June to 5.2 percent last month, while Allen County had the second-highest increase – and largest unemployment rate overall – with July’s jobless rate at 6.1 percent, up from 5.6 percent in June.

Statewide, Mercer County again led the state with its 3.3 percent unemployment, while three other counties, including Auglaize County, also had jobless rates below 4.5 percent. The other two counties were Holmes (3.9 percent) and Delaware (4.3 percent).

At the other end of the spectrum, seven counties had unemployment rates at or above 8.0 percent in July. They include Monroe County, which had the highest unemployment in Ohio in July at 12.2 percent; Meigs (9.4 percent); Pike County (8.9 percent); Huron and Morgan (8.8 percent); Scioto County (8.5 percent); and Jefferson County (8.0 percent).

Across the state, 73 of Ohio’s 88 counties saw increases in their unemployment rates. The comparable rate for the state was 6.0 percent in July.

POSTED: 08/20/14 at 5:53 am. FILED UNDER: News