(The Center Square) – Ohio’s jobless numbers remained steady in September, but the number of new jobs added grew significantly, according to figures released Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Ohio’s September unemployment rate remained 3.4%, below the 3.8% national average. The state’s labor participation rate also stayed at 62.1%, worse than the national average of 62.8%.
The report showed the state added 11,000 private-sector jobs over a wide range of areas, with new hires in construction, manufacturing and the service sector.
Also, the government sector cut 2,600 jobs in September.
Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, said the gains over several areas could show the improvements could last.
“To ensure this job growth continues, particularly in manufacturing, lawmakers must adopt policies to build a skilled workforce ready to fill jobs in the new, advanced manufacturing sector,” Hederman said. “To do this, Ohio lawmakers should address policies that favor four-year universities over community colleges and embrace new technologies like immersive learning and established training methods such as apprenticeships. This dual approach will provide multiple pathways to prosperity for all Ohioans.”
In August, the state gained 3,800 private sector jobs, below July’s increase of 6,800.
The overall unemployment figures for September were in contrast to August, when the state’s unemployment figure rose from 3.3% in July to 3.4%, up slightly but still below the national average of 3.8%. The labor force participation rate stayed at 62.1% from July to August.
September was the eighth consecutive month Ohio posted an unemployment rate below 4%, and the state has added more than 80,000 private-sector jobs this year.
The recent figures were developed before UAW auto workers went on strike at plants in Ohio, and Policy Matters Ohio Economist Michael Shields believes the strike could impact October numbers.
“Because auto worker jobs each support about seven additional jobs, we could see a short-term dip in job numbers,” Shields said.
