Area jobless picture mixed

6/25/2008

Some northwest Ohio counties had signifi cant jumps in jobless rates last month, but rates in other counties tumbled, even as the statewide rate increased significantly, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said yesterday. Those counties experiencing large increases in May from April included Hancock, up to 5 percent, and Wood, up to 5.9 percent. Falling noticeably were Ottawa, at 6.4 percent, and Huron, at 7.3 percent. The state rate rose to 6.3 percent, a large increase that government officials attributed in part to searches for summer work.