(The Center Square) – Ohio’s job market continues to cool.

The state’s unemployment rate rose again in March, while the labor participation rate remained steady, according to figures released by the state Department of Job and Family Services.

The unemployment rate grew to 3.8% in March, up from 3.7% in February. The national average is also 3.8%.

The increase comes a month after the rate remained steady in February but continues a trend of rising unemployment since August.

Rea Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, said the new labor participation numbers show fewer Ohioans looking for work found in March.

“Ohio’s job market has cooled since the sizzling summer of 2023,” Hederman said. “While Ohio is adding new jobs, faster job growth is needed to reduce an unemployment rate that has crept up over the last several months. Gov. DeWine’s recent State of the State emphasized education and job training reforms needed to prepare and grow Ohio’s workforce. Still, Ohio needs to focus on fiscal and economic reforms that will lead to job growth in the Buckeye State.”

In his address, Gov. Mike DeWine announced $200 million in grants to grow new career tech classrooms at 35 training centers. Last month, he gave $67 million to 56 programs to buy more training equipment for students.

He also asked lawmakers to create new legislation that would require career planning in existing high school graduation requirements.

As previously reported by The Center Square, the state set a record of 3.3% unemployment in July, the second consecutive month setting a record.

Since then, the rate rose to 3.4% in August and held steady in September. It hit 3.6% in October, November and December, but the state lost jobs in November for the first time in more than a year.