NATION

NATION

Joblessness rises in Ohio, 42 other states in the US

WASHINGTON (AP) — Unemployment rates rose in 43 states last month, the government said Friday, painting a bleak picture of the job market and illustrating nationwide data released two weeks ago.

The rise in joblessness was a sharp change from November, when 36 states said their unemployment rates fell. Four states — South Carolina, Delaware, Florida and North Carolina — reported record-high jobless rates in December.

New Jersey’s rate, meanwhile, rose to a 33-year high of 10.1 percent while New York’s reached a 26-year high of 9 percent.

Ohio’s rate edged up to 10.9 percent for December, from 10.6 percent the month before. The number of workers unemployed in Ohio last month was 641,000, up from 624,000 in November.

Most union members now work in public sector

WASHINGTON — A majority of union members now work for the government, partly because massive layoffs in the recession plunged the private sector’s union levels to a record low.

Local, state and government workers make up 51.5 percent of all union members — becoming the majority of organized labor for the first time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Private-sector union membership plummeted by 10 percent last year, while government unions posted slight gains.

REGION

H&R Block tax office to open in Canfield

CANFIELD — A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the new H&R Block tax office in the Colonial Plaza, 417 E. Main St. There will be doughnuts, coffee, juice and gifts for those attending.

The business can be reached at (330) 538-2202

From Vindicator staff and wire reports