County unemployment remains steady

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Although unemployment rose in most Ohio counties, the jobless rate in Van Wert County remained steady in July, according to figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

A great majority of Ohio counties — 67 out of 88 — saw unemployment decrease in July, although Van Wert County’s jobless rate remained the same as in June: 4.0 percent. Eight counties saw an increase in unemployment, while the jobless rate did not change in 13 counties, including Van Wert.

According to labor force estimates compiled by the ODJFS, with assistance from the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, Van Wert County showed a decrease in its labor force of 100 people, from 14,700 in June to 14,600 last month. Those employed also declined 100 people, from 14,100 to 14,000, while the number of unemployed county residents stayed the same at 600.

Among neighboring counties, Mercer County again had the lowest unemployment estimate at 3.1 percent for July, although that was a tenth of a percent higher than the month prior. Putnam County remained the same as it was in June, at 3.5 percent, while Auglaize County’s unemployment rate increased a tenth of a percent, from 3.6 percent in June to 3.7 percent last month.

Paulding County was the only neighboring county to see a decrease in unemployment, lowering its jobless rate three-tenths of a percent, from 4.6 percent in June to 4.3 percent in July. Allen County saw the biggest increase in unemployment, moving upward a half percent, from June’s 4.8 percent to 5.3 percent last month.

Mercer County again had the lowest unemployment rate in the state, while Delaware was second at 3.4 percent, and Hancock, Holmes, and Putnam counties were all at 3.5 percent.

On the other end of the spectrum, four counties had jobless rates at or above 7.5 percent in July. Monroe County was the highest in the state at 9.9 percent, while Meigs County had a 7.9 percent unemployment rate in July, Jefferson County was at 7.8 percent, and Noble County’s jobless rate was 7.5 percent last month.

Ohio’s comparable unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in July.