October unemployment rate dropped in Ohio, 31 other states

Staff /wire report

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 4.4 percent in October 2015, down from 4.5 percent in September, according to data released Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 30,800 over the month, from a revised 5,396,400 in September to 5,427,200 in October 2015.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in October was 249,000, down 5,000 from 254,000 in September. The number of unemployed has decreased by 51,000 in the past 12 months from 300,000. The October unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 5.2 percent in October 2014.

Goods-producing industries, at 895,800, added 11,500 jobs over the month. Job gains in construction of 5,800 and manufacturing of 5,800 outweighed job losses in mining and logging of 100.

The private service-providing sector, at 3,773,700, added 24,800 jobs in educational and health services, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, trade, transportation, and utilities, financial activities and other services.

Government employment, at 757,700, lost 5,500 jobs in local, where 4,800 jobs were lost, and state, where 700 were lost. Federal government employment did not change over the month.

Local, nonseasonally adjusted unemployment figures for the Mahoning Valley will be released Tuesday.

The U.S. unemployment rate for October was 5 percent, down from 5.1 percent in September and down from 5.7 percent in October 2014.

Across the nation, unemployment rates fell in 32 states last month as employers added the most jobs of any month this year.

Jobless rates rose in just three states in October and were unchanged in 15.

The unemployment rate has tumbled below 4.5 percent in 21 states, including Texas, Colorado, and Virginia. That’s a historically low level that may help push up pay in the coming months.

A hiring rebound in October added 271,000 jobs, the most this year. The national unemployment rate fell to 5 percent from 5.1 percent. Steady spending by consumers has offset slower growth overseas and encouraged businesses to add more workers.

Employers stepped up hiring in 40 states last month, the most since April. The biggest job gains occurred in California, which added 41,200, followed by Florida, with 35,200.

North Dakota’s unemployment rate of 2.8 percent was the lowest in the nation, followed by Nebraska’s 2.9 percent.