Ohio unemployment rate falls slightly, again, to 4.4 percent

COLUMBUS (AP) — The state says Ohio’s unemployment rate fell again in October to 4.4 percent, its lowest mark since August 2001.

That’s down from 4.5 percent in September and 5.2 percent in October 2014. The state’s rate has been tracking below the national rate, which was 5 percent for October.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported today that the state had 249,000 workers considered unemployed last month, or 5,000 fewer than the previous month.

Month-over-month job gains were seen in categories including construction, manufacturing, educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality. Losses were reported in local and state government and in logging and mining.