County unemployment rate drops to 9.5 percent

Highland County's unemployment rate has fallen into the single digits, with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reporting a 9.5 percent unemployment rate for the month of May.

The county's rate had been at 10 percent for the month of April.

According to data released Tuesday by the ODJFS, at 9.5 percent Highland County is listed with the 10th highest unemployment rate in the state, tying with Adams, and Vinton counties.

Pike County has the highest rate at 12.6 percent.

In other area counties, Clinton is at 9.8 percent, Ross is at 8.1 percent, Brown is at 7.7 percent, and Fayette is at 7.4 percent.

Among the state's 88 counties, the May 2012 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 4.2 percent in Mercer County to a high of 12.6 percent in Pike County. Rates decreased in 84 of the 88 counties. In May, the comparable rate for Ohio was 6.9 percent.

Seven counties had unemployment rates at below 5.5 percent in May. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Mercer were: Holmes, 4.7; Delaware, 4.9; Union, 5.2; Putnam, 5.4; and Auglaize and Geauga, 5.5 percent.

Five counties had unemployment rates above 10.0 percent during May. The counties with the highest rates, other than Pike were: Meigs, 11.7; Scioto, 10.5; Morgan, 10.4; and Jefferson, 10.1 percent.