February 2013 Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation
(Seasonally Adjusted) 

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in February, unchanged from 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 16,100 over the month from the revised 5,181,100 in January to 5,197,200 in February. 

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in February was 401,000, up from 399,000 in January.  The number of unemployed has decreased by 30,000 in the past 12 months from 431,000.  The February unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 7.5 percent in February 2012. 

The U.S. unemployment rate for February was 7.7 percent, down from 7.9 percent in January, and down from 8.3 percent in February 2012. 

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 16,100 over the month, from a revised 5,181,100 in January 2013 to 5,197,200 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 850,900, lost 2,500 jobs over the month due to declines in construction (-3,700). Manufacturing added 1,200 jobs and mining and logging remained unchanged.  Private service-providing industries, at 3,596,500, added 17,600 jobs.  Job growth occurred in professional and business services (+12,200), educational and health services (+4,900), financial activities (+2,100), leisure and hospitality (+1,900), information (+500) and other services (+300). Job losses occurred only in trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,300). Government employment, at 749,800, gained 1,000 jobs.  Increases in local government (+900) and federal government (+300) outweighed reductions in state growth (-200). 

From February 2012 to February 2013, nonagricultural wage and salary employment rose 33,300.  Goods-producing industries increased 600 over the year.  Manufacturing gained 8,400 jobs in nondurable goods (+5,300) and durable goods (+3,100).  Mining and logging added 100 jobs but construction declined 7,900.  Private service-providing industries added 43,900 jobs.  Gains were posted in educational and health services (+19,000), professional and business services (+12,300), leisure and hospitality (+7,800), financial activities (+3,400), and other services (+1,800). Losses occurred in information (-300) and trade, transportation, and utilities (-100). Government employment decreased 11,200 through losses in local government (-6,000), state government (‑4,000), and federal government (-1,200).