COLUMBUS, Ohio – The unemployment rate in central Ohio increased for the third consecutive month, to 4.9 percent in July from 4.8 percent in June, according to data released Tuesday morning by the state.
The unemployment rate in the Columbus metropolitan area has risen each month since reaching a post-recession low of 4.3 percent in April, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Columbus still enjoys the lowest jobless rate of any of Ohio’s five largest cities at 4.9 percent. Cleveland continues to struggle with the highest at 9.5 percent.
The state saw its first monthly increase in a year in July, to 5.7 percent and has seen the work force shrink for five consecutive months.
The national jobless rate is 6.2 percent.