State jobless rate 6.5 percent in February

Ohio's unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in February 2014, down from 6.9 percent in January, according to data released this week by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).

Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 4,600 over the month, from a revised 5,284,600 in January to 5,280,000 in February.

The January report showed Highland County's jobless rate at 9.7 percent.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in February was 377,000, down 18,000 from 395,000 in January. The number of unemployed has decreased by 44,000 in the past 12 months from 421,000. The February unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 7.3 percent in February 2013.

The U.S. unemployment rate for February was 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent in January but down from 7.7 percent in February 2013.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment decreased 4,600 from a revised 5,284,600 in January to 5,280,000 in February, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) in cooperation with ODJFS.

Goods-producing industries, at 871,200, lost 4,700 jobs. Losses in construction (-8,100) and mining and logging (-300) were partially offset by gains in manufacturing (+3,700). The private service-providing sector, at 3,655,500, increased 4,100. Job gains in educational and health services (+2,600), trade, transportation, and utilities (+2,400), professional and business services (+1,400), other services (+1,000), and information (+200) exceeded job losses in financial activities (-2,300) and leisure and hospitality (-1,200). Government, at 753,300, decreased 4,000 in local government (-3,400) and federal government (-600). State government employment was unchanged.

From February 2013 to February 2014, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 50,000. Goods-producing industries gained 15,300 jobs. Manufacturing added 12,800 jobs in durable goods (+11,400) and non-durable goods (+1,400). Construction increased 1,400, and mining and logging grew 1,100. The private service-providing sector added 40,600 jobs over the year. Employment increased in professional and business services (+22,500), educational and health services (+8,300), leisure and hospitality (+6,300), trade, transportation, and utilities (+6,100), and other services (+2,200). Over-the-year employment declines occurred in financial activities (-2,800) and information (-2,000). Government lost 5,900 jobs throughout state (-2,400), federal (-2,200), and local (-1,300) government.

NOTE: All data cited are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor. Data sources include Current Population Survey (U.S. data); Current Employment Statistics Program (nonagricultural wage and salary employment data); and Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program (Ohio unemployment rates). More complete listings of the data appear in the monthly Ohio Labor Market Review. Unemployment rates for all Ohio counties, as well as cities with populations of 50,000 or more, are presented in the monthly ODJFS Civilian Labor Force Estimates publication. Updated statewide historical data may be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Labor Market Information at (614) 752-9494. Ohioans can access tens of thousands of job openings, for positions ranging from file clerks to CEOs, at http://ohiomeansjobs.com.