Ohio’s jobless rate drops

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped in October to 5.3 percent, according to numbers released by the state Friday.

The state’s jobless rate was down from 5.6 percent in September and 5.7 percent the two months before, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The Ohio unemployment rate was slightly better than the national rate, which was 5.8 percent for October.

Seasonally adjusted non-farm employment increased by 1,000 over the month, from a revised 5,306,300 in September to 5,307,300 in October, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor in cooperation with the Ohio jobs agency.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in October was 305,000, down 14,000 from 319,000 in September. The number of unemployed has decreased by 119,000 in the past 12 months. The October unemployment rate in Ohio in October 2013 was 7.4 percent.

The 5.6 percent unemployment rate in September was the lowest since May and June, when it was 5.5 percent.

Gains in October were seen in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, educational and health services, financial activities and information.