Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation

Ohio's unemployment rate (Seasonally Adjusted) was 7.3 percent in August 2013, up from 7.2 percent in July, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 8,200 over the month, from a revised 5,208,800 in July to 5,200,600 in August.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 419,000, up 3,000 from 416,000 in July. The number of unemployed has increased by 9,000 in the past 12 months from 410,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 7.2 percent in August 2012.

The U.S. unemployment rate for August was 7.3 percent, down from 7.4 percent in July and from 8.1 percent in August 2012.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment decreased 8,200 over the month, from a revised 5,208,800 in July 2013 to 5,200,600 in August, 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 843,600, lost 4,700 jobs over the month. Jobs decreased in manufacturing (-2,500), construction (-2,100), and mining and logging (-100). The private service-providing sector, at 3,608,800, lost 5,600 jobs. Employment decreased in leisure and hospitality (-7,100), educational and health services (-6,300), other services (-900), and information (-500). Gains were seen in trade, transportation, and utilities (+4,900), professional and business services (+3,900), and financial activities (+400). Government employment, at 748,200, increased 2,100. Local and federal government added 2,100 and 400 jobs respectively. State government lost 400 jobs.

From August 2012 to August 2013, nonagricultural wage and salary employment grew 32,500. Goods-producing industries decreased 3,000 over the year. Construction lost 6,100 jobs. Manufacturing gained 3,100 jobs in durable goods (+2,600) and nondurable goods (+500). Mining and logging did not change. The private service-providing sector added 42,800 jobs. Gains were posted in educational and health services (+13,100), trade, transportation, and utilities (+12,200), professional and business services (+9,900), leisure and hospitality (+7,400), other services (+2,100), and financial activities (+400). Information decreased 2,300. Government lost 7,300 jobs. Losses in local (-6,500) and federal (-1,900) government exceeded gains in state government (+1,100).