State sees large job increase in March

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in March, up from a revised 5 percent in February.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 18,300 over the month, from a revised 5,475,500 in February to 5,493,800 in March.

The private sector saw the largest increase in jobs – 17,100. The state also had gains in professional and business services, educational and health services, trade, transportation and utilities, financial activities, information and state, local and federal governments.

Job losses were seen in manufacturing, construction, mining and logging and leisure and hospitality.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in March was 294,000, up 9,000 from 285,000 in February.

The state’s civilian labor force, which is the sum of the employed and unemployed, increased in March, going from 5,754,000 in February up to 5,790,000 in March.

The number of unemployed has increased by 4,000 in the past 12 months, from 290,000.

The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 5 percent, up from 4.9 percent in February and down from 5.5 percent in March 2015.

Local unemployment rates for the Mahoning Valley will be released Tuesday.