Ohio's jobless rate reaches 11 percent

Ohio's unemployment rate rose to 11.0 percent in March, up from 10.9 percent in February, according to data released April 16 by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 4,900 over the month, from 4,996,600 in February to 5,001,500 in March.

"There was little change in Ohio's job market during March.," ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin said. "The number of Ohioans with jobs increased slightly as the unemployment rate edged up to 11.0 percent."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in March was 655,000, up from 648,000 in February. The number of unemployed has increased by 77,000 in the past 12 months from 578,000. The March unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 9.6 percent in March 2009.

The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 9.7 percent, unchanged from February.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment, at 5,001,500 in March, was up 4,900 from February according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Goods-producing industries increased 3,400 to 786,000. Manufacturing advanced 2,900 as a gain in durable goods (+3,400) exceeded a decrease in nondurable goods (-500). Construction added 500 jobs, while mining and logging was little changed. Service-providing industries rose 1,500 to 4,215,500. Improvements were posted in trade, transportation, and utilities (+2,800), other services (+1,600), and government (+1,400). Employment declined in financial activities (-2,600), leisure and hospitality (-1,500), information (-100), and professional and business services (-100). Total employment in educational and health services was unchanged.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment fell 147,000. The goods-producing sector was down 74,500. Manufacturing employment dropped 44,500 due to losses in durable goods (-36,200) and nondurable goods (-8,300). The construction workforce declined 29,400. Mining and logging decreased 600. Employment in service-providing industries was 72,500 lower. The most significant declines occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (-34,100) and financial activities (-18,600). Also down were professional and business services (-8,400), government (-6,000), information (-5,200), leisure and hospitality (-3,800), and other services ( 2,600). Educational and health services advanced 6,200.