State unemployment level down

Staff report

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in September, down from 5.4 percent in August.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 10,500 over the month, from a revised 5,546,500 in August to 5,557,000 in September, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said Friday.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio last month was 305,000, down 6,000 from 311,000 in August. The number of unemployed has increased by 21,000 in the past 12 months from 284,000. The September unemployment rate for Ohio increased from 5 percent in September 2016.

Employment in goods-producing industries increased 3,100 during the month with 2,600 gains in manufacturing and 500 gains in construction. Employment in mining and logging was unchanged from August.

The private sector added 7,400 jobs.

Employment gains in trade, transportation and utilities of 6,200, educational and health services of 4,600, and leisure and hospitality of 2,900 surpassed losses in financial activities of 2,400, other services of 2,200, information of 1,000, and professional and business services of 700.

Government employment, at 776,300, did not change over the month as losses in local government of 7,200 offset gains in state of 6,900 and federal of 300.

Local county unemployment figures will be released Tuesday.

The U.S. unemployment rate for September was 4.2 percent, down from 4.4 percent in August and down from 4.9 percent in September 2016.