Ohio unemployment rises to 10.9 percent in December

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s unemployment rate has edged up to 10.9 percent for December, from 10.6 percent the month before.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said today that the state’s labor market weakened, led by losses in service-providing industries.

The figures were released on the same day that President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Ohio to talk about rebuilding the economy.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio last month was 641,000, up from 624,000 in November.

Officials say the number of Ohioans out of work has risen by 196,000 in the last 12 months, from 445,000 in December 2008. The state’s jobless rate a year ago was 7.4 percent.

The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 10.0 percent, unchanged from from November.

In July, Ohio unemployment hit 11.2 percent, the highest level in about 26 years.