COLUMBUS, Ohio – Unemployment in central Ohio jumped in June, mirroring an increase in the jobless rate statewide.
The unemployment rate in the 8-county Columbus metro area was 6.4, up from 6.0 percent in May, and its highest level since February, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The increase followed a statewide increase to 7.2 percent. Unemployment statistics in Ohio have been characterized by some erratic swings, plunging in March and April, only to soar again in May and June. A department spokesman says many states are seeing similar sudden changes.
Increases in June have been partly blamed on more workers entering the labor force, but the state also shed more than 12,000 jobs.
The rate in central Ohio is unchanged from one year ago and is 1.1 percentage points higher than the post-recession low of 5.3 percent in November.
The U.S. unemployment rate in June was 7.6 percent.
Ohio’s other large metropolitan areas saw big increases in their jobless rates last month: 0.9 percent in Cleveland (7.7%); 0.6 percent in Cincinnati (7.4%); 0.5 percent in Dayton (7.8%) and 0.5 percent in Toledo (8.3%).
Unemployment ranged from 5.3 in Delaware County to 7.6 percent in Pickaway County.