Ohio jobless rate drops to 10.1% in September

10/16/2009

COLUMBUS — Ohio continued to lose jobs last month, but the September unemployment rate dropped for a second straight month to 10.1 percent.

The rate, released Friday by the state Department of Job and Family Services, was down from 10.8 percent in August but was up from 6.8 percent for the same month last year.

The statewide employment dropped by 5,900 last month, but there were fewer jobless, as the number shrank by 47,000 to 594,000, the state report shows.

The national unemployent rate was 9.8 percent last month. Michigan's, reported Wednesday, was 15.3 percent, highest in the nation.

“Ohioans unemployment rate declined in September as more Ohioans dropped out of the labor force,” said Douglas Lumpkin, director of Job and Family Services.

There were fewer jobs last month from August in both goods-producing industries and services, the state said. From a year ago, employment statewide fell by 258,100.

The county and city rates in Ohio will be released Tuesday.