COLUMBUS – The unemployment rate in central Ohio ticked upward in May as more people found jobs, but more were looking for work than in April, according to data released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The May unemployment rate in the 10-county Columbus region was 4.0 percent, up from 3.8 percent in April. The region still boasted the lowest rate of any of Ohio’s major metropolitan areas.
Employers added 12,800 jobs during the month, bringing the total number of area residents who were working to 995,900, the highest number since November.
At the same time, 41,500 people were actively looking for work, 2,800 more than in April but 5,800 fewer than in May 2014 when the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent.
The labor force was also at its highest level since November, indicating more people felt confident of their chance of finding a job, which could account for the increase in the unemployment rate.
The jobless rate had fallen for three consecutive months after hitting 5.0 percent in January.
The regional unemployment rate was still better than the statewide 5.2 percent and the national rate of 5.5 percent.
Delaware County’s 3.4 percent was the lowest rate among the counties that make up the Columbus metropolitan area. At 6.1 percent, Perry County’s was the highest.