COLUMBUS, Ohio – Unemployment in central Ohio ticked upward in May after four months of declines, but the region added 18,000 jobs during the first five months of the year and the higher unemployment rate may be a sign that more people are optimistic about finding work.
The eight counties in the Columbus area saw the regional unemployment rate rise from 5.7 percent in April to 6.0 percent in May, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The statewide jobless rate in May was 7.0 percent and the national rate was 7.6.
The data showed the labor force grew to its highest level since last June and the 918,500 employed central Ohioans was an increase of 8,700 from April, but only 700 more than a year ago, indicating any recovery is slow and fragile.
Though the number of employed workers was still short of the 920,000 who were working last November, a post-recession high-water mark, that figure is higher than before the downturn.
The 58,200 workers listed as unemployed was about 3,400 more than in April, but when coupled with the larger work force, suggests more people entering the job market.
The jobless rate in central Ohio was virtually unchanged from a year ago when it was 5.9 percent, but the state shows more than 7,000 more people working and a labor force that has grown by about 8,000 workers, suggesting increased confidence by job-seekers.
Columbus still enjoyed the lowest unemployment rate of all of Ohio’s major metropolitan areas.
Delaware County boasted the state’s second-lowest rate – 4.9 percent – while Pike County struggled with the highest at 11.9 percent.