Ohio unemployment falls amid more job losses

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s unemployment rate has dropped for the second straight month, though the state continued to lose jobs.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said today that joblessness fell to 10.1 percent in September, from 10.8 percent in August.

Officials say the rate is declining because more job seekers are giving up and dropping out of the labor force.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio last month was 594,000, down from 641,000 in August.

But nonfarm payroll employment also fell, by 5,900.

Department Director Douglas Lumpkin says the state saw further job losses in both goods-producing industries and services.

September’s 10.1 percent unemployment was up from 6.8 percent a year ago.