Ohio jobless rate drops to 5.7%, lowest level in 6 years

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped in April to 5.7 percent, the lowest level in more than six years, the state reported Friday in news that continued to play into the governor’s race.

The rate, which was down from 6.1 percent in March, is the lowest since the same rate in February 2008. Ohio’s rate remains below the national figure, which fell to 6.3 percent in April from 6.7 percent in March, according to the Department of Job and Family Services.

Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 12,600 over the month, from 5,285,000 in March to 5,297,600 in April, the agency said. The number of unemployed workers in Ohio in April was 328,000, down 26,000 from 354,000 in March.

The state said an increase of 2,100 manufacturing jobs exceeded a loss of 900 construction jobs. Jobs in trade, transportation and utilities were up by 6,200, with declines of 2,800 in educational and health services. Mining and logging jobs remained unchanged from March.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald said the figures disguise the fact that 14,000 people stopped looking for work during April.