Ohio's unemployment rate was 9.2 percent in February, down slightly from the revised 9.3 percent in January, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).
Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 13,600 over the month, from the revised 5,068,300 in January to 5,081,900 in February.
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in February was 542,000, down from 551,000 in January. The number of unemployed has decreased by 82,000 in the past 12 months from 624,000. The February unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 10.6 percent in February 2010.
Local rates, including for Marion County, will be released next week.
The U.S. unemployment rate for February was 8.9 percent, down from 9.0 percent in January.
Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment increased 13,600 over the month, from 5,068,300 in January to 5,081,900 in February, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.
Service-providing industries, at 4,278,500, were up 14,900 from January. Industries gaining jobs included leisure and hospitality (+5,700), educational and health services (+3,300), trade, transportation, and utilities (+2,300), professional and business services (+2,000), government (+1,200), and information (+1,100). Other services (-400) and financial activities (-300) experienced slight declines. Goods-producing industries decreased 1,300 over the month to 803,400 as a loss in manufacturing (-4,700) outweighed a gain in construction (+3,400). Mining and logging remained at the January level.
Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment advanced 77,600. Service-providing industries added 66,100 jobs. The most notable gains occurred in professional and business services (+22,900), educational and health services (+20,800), and leisure and hospitality (+15,000). Other industries that experienced growth included other services (+6,100) and trade, transportation, and utilities (+4,500). Losses occurred in government (-1,500), financial activities (-1,400), and information (-300). Goods-producing industries increased 11,500 over the year. Manufacturing added 8,700 jobs as a gain in durable goods (+13,100) exceeded a loss in nondurable goods (-4,400). Construction (+2,600) and mining and logging (+200) also increased from February 2010.
