State unemployment increased slightly in October

Staff report

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in October 2016, up from 4.8 percent in September.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment decreased 2,800 over the month, from a revised 5,499,400 in September to 5,496,600 in October 2016.

The U.S. unemployment rate for October was 4.9 percent, 0.1 percentage points lower than in September 2016 and October 2015.

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

The state saw an increase of 6,400 jobs in the goods-producing industries. Meanwhile the private sector lost 6,000 jobs. Professional and business services lost 5,000 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities lost 2,000, other services lost 1,600, financial activity lost 100. Gains of 1,600 were seen in leisure and hospitality, 600 were gained in educational and health services and information gained 500. Government employment decreased by 2,500 on the local side and 700 on the state side. The federal government saw no gains or losses.

The state’s civilian labor force, or the sum of the employed and unemployed, was 5,729,000 in October 2016, which compares with 5,748,000 reported in September 2016.