December’s jobless rate in Ohio slips, a bit, to 6.7%

1/19/2013

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s jobless rate was 6.7 percent in December, down from 6.8 percent in November, state officials reported Friday.

It's the lowest since July, 2008, when the rate was 6.6 percent. The rate reached a high of 10.6 percent for several months in 2009 and early 2010.

Officials said the state’s economy is improving slowly, and it will take time for a full recovery. Still, Ohio’s unemployment rate for December was well below the national average of 7.8 percent, which was unchanged from November. Michigan's unemployment rate in December was 8.9 percent.

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in December, 2011. The number of unemployed in Ohio has decreased 70,000 in 12 months.

The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services reported 388,000 people out of work last month, down from 391,000 the previous month.

At the same time, the state said its survey of businesses found that they cut 9,400 jobs last month, led by a drop of 4,900 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector and a decline of 2,100 jobs in government. On the plus side, manufacturers added 900 jobs.

Over the past year, the number of unemployed workers has dropped by 70,000 while businesses have added 90,700 jobs.