COLUMBUS – The unemployment rate in central Ohio rose to 4.2 percent in June, the second straight monthly increase, but the number of people who say they are working is at an all-time high.
The jobless rate for the 10-county Columbus metropolitan area had decreased to 3.8 percent in April before rising to 4.0 percent in May.
According to data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, only 300 jobs 4,300 jobs were added in June while the number of people participating in the work force increased by 7,000.
Persistent rain during the month slowed hiring in leisure activities, such as amusement parks and golf courses.
The statewide unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, still below the national rate of 5.3 percent, but Democrats and other critics of Gov. John Kasich’s economic policies say the state continues to lag behind the rest of the nation in post-recession job recovery.
At 4.2 percent, Columbus continues to boast the lowest unemployment rate of all of Ohio’s largest cities. Cleveland’s is the highest at 8.3 percent.
In June, 427,000 Columbus residents told a survey they were working, the highest number since 1983, which is as far back as the department’s online records are available.
The number of employed workers in the area topped 1 million for the first time since at least 1970, though the department recently increased the statistical measuring area to include additional counties.