Ottawa County leads Ohio in with 18.9 percent jobless

COLUMBUS (AP) — A county just east of Toledo leads the state in unemployment with joblessness at a stunning 18.9 percent.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said today that Ottawa County’s rate jumped in January from 16.5 percent in December.

The northwest Ohio county is heavily dependent on farming and Lake Erie summer tourism.

Mercer County in western Ohio had the state’s lowest unemployment rate for January, at 6.8 percent.

Among Ohio cities with population more than 50,000, Youngstown had the highest jobless rate for the month: 12.5 percent. Cleveland Heights was lowest, at 7 percent.

The department said that unemployment statewide dipped in January to 9.4 percent.