COLUMBUS, Ohio – The unemployment rate in Ohio increased four of the last five months to a nearly two-year high of 7.5 percent in October, according to data released Friday morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
It is the highest unemployment rate since February of 2012 and 0.5 percent higher than the jobless rate in May.
Ohio’s unemployment rate increased from 7.3 percent in August to 7.4 percent in September and 7.5 percent last month. The figures for September and October were released together because September’s data was not available due to the federal government shutdown.
The state added 2,600 jobs between August and October, most of those last month, according to a survey of businesses. However, a telephone survey of households indicated there were also more people not working.
The two surveys pointing in different directions and the increase in unemployment are the continuation of a trend which shows the state’s economy slowly improving, department spokesman Benjamin Johnson said.
“The state is very slowly adding jobs,” Johnson said.
The number of unemployed workers was has increased by 31,000 in the past year, from 396,000 to 427,000, the department said.
“We have job growth, but the other survey shows more people unemployed. Since both are moving slightly, it shows growth,” Johnson said.
The October unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 6.9 percent in October 2012 and is 0.8 percent higher than the rate at the end of 2012.
The U.S. unemployment rate for October was 7.3 percent, up from 7.2 percent in September and down from 7.9 percent in October 2012.
Service-sector industries added 33,400 jobs, with big gain posted gains in leisure and hospitality, educational and health services; trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and business services and financial activities. Information, other services and government shed 17,000 jobs.
The manufacturing sector gained 6,000 jobs during the past year, led by gains in durable goods, while the construction industry lost 1,100 jobs.