Ohio's jobless rate drops in August to 10.8%

9/18/2009

Ohio's unemployment rate dropped nearly half a percentage point in August to 10.8 percent, from the 11.2 percent rate the state posted in July, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said Friday morning.

The decrease was largely the result of a drop in Ohio?s labor force ? those actively seeking work in the state -- as opposed to people finding jobs or going back to work, the state said.

The number of people employed in Ohio dropped 30,100 in August to 5,097,300, while the number of those unemployed dropped 25,000 last month to 641,000.

Michigan?s unemployment rate for August was 15.2 percent, up from 15 percent in July. The national unemployment rate was 9.7 percent, up from 9.4 percent in July.

The rates for Ohio counties and cities will be released Tuesday by the state.