Unemployment drops to 18.3 percent
The unemployment rate in Highland County dropped to 18.3 percent during the month of March.
Highland County, however, is still ranked with the second highest unemployment in the state, behind Clinton County, which had a rate of 18.7 for the month of March, down from 19 percent in February. In February Highland County had an unemployment rate of 18.6.
"What I would say on those numbers is that 18 percent is still too high," said Highland County Commissioner Shane Wilkin. "We've got to keep working to keep the companies we have, to keep them here, and do what we can to attract new business, and help the companies we do have to expand. Everyone shoots for no unemployment, but we've got to get it down to a number that is more manageable. If there is a company out there that needs assistance there may be something the state is offering that we can help them with. Call our office at (937) 393-1911."
Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst said there is some slow job growth, that may attribute to some of the decrease in the numbers.
"Without talking to job and family services, it appears Candle-Lite has been hiring," Horst said, "and some people have stopped drawing unemployment because they have found some work. However, on the other side of the coin, there may be some people who fell in that gap and maybe didn't get their unemployment benefits extended."
Highland County Job and Family Services Director Debbie Robbins said that she agreed with Horst.
"I believe it a combination of both," Robbins said. "I know that when I talk to folks in our One-Stop resource room, they are getting information about some employers who are hiring. I do believe there is a certain number of people who are falling out of the system because their benefits have run out, or because they have simply stopped looking."
Robbins said that thought some area residents may be starting at new employment, the decrease in jobless numbers is not yet enough to affect the agency.
"Our caseloads haven't started to go down yet," Robbins said. "We're hoping that will happen soon. Sometimes it does in the summer months, because there are some opportunities for things like part-time employment. That may help things, but it remains to be seen."
Among the state's 88 counties, the March 2010 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 8.4 percent in Delaware County to a high of 18.7 percent in Clinton County. Rates decreased in 74 of the 88 counties. In March, the comparable rate for Ohio was 11.5 percent, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Eleven counties had unemployment rates below 10.0 percent in March. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Delaware, were: Holmes and Lawrence, 8.8; Geauga, 9.1; Mercer, 9.2; Medina, 9.3; Franklin, 9.5; Lake, 9.6; Union, 9.7; and Athens and Cuyahoga, 9.8 percent.
Ten counties had unemployment rates above 16.0 percent during March. The counties with the highest rates, other than Clinton, were: Highland, 18.3; Ottawa, 18.0; Morgan and Noble, 17.2; Pike, 17.1; Meigs, 16.9; Huron, 16.8; and Adams and Monroe, 16.5 percent.