Ohio sees positive unemployment numbers for March

Ohio’s unemployment for March dropped slightly, a sign the economy is continuing its positive trajectory.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.4% for the month, down from 4.6% in February. The national unemployment rate for March was 3.8%, the same as February and down from 4% in March 2018.

There were 258,000 unemployed workers in Ohio in March, down from the 265,000 unemployed workers in the state in February. The number also decreased by 1,000 over the past 12 months.

Between March 2018 and March 2019, non-agricultural wage and salary employment increased by 39,800 jobs, according to state numbers. Goods-producing industries saw an increase of 7,600 jobs during the time frame, while manufacturing added 4,200 jobs, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

At the same time, overall government employment decreased by 4,100 jobs, driven by a reduction of 6,100 local government jobs statewide, which outpaced the addition of 1,600 state jobs and 400 federal government jobs in Ohio.

Despite the positive news for the Buckeye State, Ohio’s unemployment rate for March was higher than its neighbors.

Pennsylvania reported an unemployment rate of 3.9% in March. Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.6%, while Kentucky’s rate stood at 4% for March; Michigan officials reported the state’s unemployment rate was 4%.