Ohio unemployment rate stays at 7 pct. for May

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s unemployment rate was stuck at 7 percent last month, according to state numbers released today, but it’s still well below the national average.

The seasonally adjusted rate hasn’t moved much since the beginning of the year. Starting the year at 7 percent, it briefly rose to 7.1 percent for February and March, then dropped to 7 percent again for April. There it stayed last month, according to the data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Ohio leaders have said repeatedly that the state’s economy and its job market are getting stronger, but the process will be slow.

The state’s unemployment rate peaked at 10.6 percent during the last half of 2009 and early 2010 before beginning its trek downward. January marked the first time the rate failed to decline or at least remain steady since July 2011.