Unemployment, employment fall in Ohio

September 18, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s unemployment rate fell in August for the fifth month in a row, to 10.1 percent from 10.3 percent in July, officials said Friday.

The Department of Job and Family Services also said Friday that employment also declined last month because of the shrinking labor market in the state. The number of jobs in Ohio outside of farms fell last month by 15,400, DJFS said.

Department Director Douglas Lumpkin said in a statement that officials are cautiously optimistic about the state’s job market.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio dropped to 601,000 in August, from 614,000 the month before. Officials say the number of jobless Ohioans has declined by 37,000 in the last 12 months.

Ohio unemployment remains higher than the national rate, which was 9.6 percent in August.

DJFS will announce unemployment rates for Ohio counties and large cities Tuesday.