State unemployment rate continues to improve

State unemployment rate continues to improve

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s unemployment rate went down for the fourth month in a row in February, with the most significant job gains in the trade, transportation and utility industries.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says Friday that seasonally adjusted joblessness fell to 7.6 percent last month, from 7.7 percent in January. The number of unemployed people decreased by 4,000.

The U.S. unemployment rate for February was 8.3 percent, unchanged from January.

The state says Ohio payrolls outside of farms rose 28,300 to more than 5.1 million.

Trade, transportation and utility jobs were up 7,400, government positions increased by 4,700 and education and health services gained 3,300. The construction industry saw an increase of 4,200 jobs.

A year ago, the unemployment rate was 9.2 percent.