COLUMBUS – Ohio’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in September at 4.0%, though preliminary data from the Department of Job and Family Services indicates the state broke a 10-month stretch of job growth.
The state lost 7,600 jobs last month, dropping the number of Ohioans who were working from a revised 5.488 million in August to 4.480 million in September, according to data released by the state Friday.
Revised figures, which will be released at a future date, may show that there were actually job gains, but the initial data indicate that the state suffered job losses for the first time since October 2021.
The number of Ohioans making initial claims for unemployment benefits last week fell 17.5% from the week before. First-time jobless claims are considered a measure of layoffs.
Americans continue to enjoy historically low unemployment rates. The national jobless rate in September was 3.5%
Job growth in Ohio was strong in the manufacturing, construction; and trade, transportation and utilities, but 17,300 jobs were lost in the service sector.