Ohio’s unemployment rate rose slightly in October.
The state’s jobless rate last month hit 4.9 percent, up from 4.8 percent in September and up from 4.7 percent a year ago.
The number of people counted as working in the state fell 2,800 to 5,496,600 from 5,499,400 in September, according to figures released Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The ranks of unemployed workers rose by 5,000 from September to 280,000. That’s also an increase of 15,000 unemployed people from a year ago.
The U.S. unemployment rate for October was 4.9 percent, down from 5 percent in September and 5 percent a year ago.
Rates were adjusted to take into seasonal factors. Ohio’s unadjusted unemployment rate last month was 4.6 percent; the comparable U.S. rate was 4.7 percent.
The October figures show that Ohio still has not regained jobs lost from the Great Recession and even from the start of the new century. Jobs since 2000 for the month of October peaked at 5,643,000 in 2006; that’s 194,000 more people working 10 years ago in the state. There were 112,000 more people counted as working in October 2000 — 5,561,000 — than there were last month in Ohio.
The October jobs breakdown in Ohio shows:
• Goods-producing jobs rose by 6,400 to 907,500. Manufacturing jobs rose by 3,500; construction was up 2,500; and mining and logging added 400.
• Service sector jobs fell by 6,000 to 3,809,900. Professional and business services jobs dropped by 5,000; trade, transportation, and utilities fell 2,000; other services fell 1,600; and financial activities jobs were down by 100. Leisure and hospitality jobs increased by 1,600; educational and health services were up 600; and information jobs grew by 500.
• Government jobs fell by 3,200 to 779,200. Local government jobs dropped by 2,500; state government jobs were down 700; federal government jobs were unchanged.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him @JimMackinnonABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/JimMackinnonABJ