Even with Job Gains, Marion Unemployment Rate Rises

Data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services shows 100 more Marion County residents found jobs in June, but with more people returning to the workforce, the local unemployment rate rose for the third straight month to 8.0 percent, up from 7.4 percent in May.

June 2013 was also the third straight month that the local available workforce has increased and the fourth straight month that the number of people employed has increased.

Still, the local job market reflects much of Ohio which is seeing a very slow return to the employment seen before the recession. In June 2008, the beginning of the area’s job losses, the available workforce was greater by over 2,000 people and more than 3,000 additional people were employed as the rate sat at 6.9 percent.

More recently, Marion County’s unemployment rate had reached a four-year low in November 2012 when it hit 6.8 percent. Since then, the rate has experienced several dramatic jumps and drops as the job market continues to settle.

A year ago, the local rate was exactly the same, 8.0 percent. In that month, June 2012, the available workforce was stronger by 500 and there were 400 more people employed.

Marion County is not alone as every surrounding county saw rate increases as well. Hardin County had the most extreme jump while Delaware County increased the least.

County – Jun-13 – May-13 – Jun-12
Crawford – 8.7 – 8.2 – 8.8
Delaware – 5.3 – 4.9 – 5.3
Hardin – 8.6 – 7.3 – 8.0
Marion – 8.0 – 7.4 – 8.0
Morrow – 7.4 – 6.9 – 7.0
Union – 5.7 – 5.2 – 5.8
Wyandot – 7.4 – 6.4 – 7.2

Ohio’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in June 2013, up from 7.0 percent in May. Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 12,500 over the month, from a revised 5,214,000 in May to 5,201,500 in June.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in May was 413,000, up from 8,000 from 405,000 in May. The number of unemployed has decreased by 5,000 in the past 12 months from 418,000. The June unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 7.3 percent in June 2012.

The U.S. unemployment rate for June was 7.6 percent, unchanged from the previous month and down from 8.2 percent in June 2012.

Click here to view rates from all 88 Ohio Counties. You can learn more about the statewide employment situation by clicking here.