COLUMBUS, Ohio – Though lower than the national rate and nearly a full percentage point better than it was a year ago, Ohio’s unemployment rate has remained unchanged for the third month in a row.
The unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in March 2015, according to data released Friday morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The state’s unemployment rate for January and February was also 5.1 percent, matching the revised rate for December.
The jobless rate in March 2014 was 6.0 percent.
The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 5.5 percent.
Job gains in the service and government sectors – especially educational and health services and financial activities – barely compensated for losses in construction, leisure and hospitality and professional and business services.
The 295,000 unemployed workers in Ohio in March was an increase of 5,000 from February, which had seen a decline of about 2,000 from January.