We welcome you to JobBank USA and hope your job hunting experience
is a pleasant one. We hope you find our resources useful.
August 16, 2008
Not since December 1992 has the percentage of Ohioans without jobs been so high, state officials say.
At 7.2 in July the percentage of jobless claims represented 430,000 people.
July figures for Marion County were not available on Friday but a local unemployment rate of 6.9 percent in June after a 5.8 percent in May is worrisome, said Harry Simmons, workforce development administrator for Marion County Job and Family Services.
"We've got a steady increase here," Simmons said. Noting that the Ohio jobless rate increased 1.6 percent from a 5.6 percent figure in July 2007. "You know, Ohio certainly hasn't totally recovered from the job losses we've had over the last couple of years. I think we're definitely headed in the right direction, but it's still a pretty hard time for Ohio."
Simmons said he perceives as a positive step Gov. Ted Strickland's economic stimulus program, objective of which is to create 57,000 jobs.
Ohio's unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in June, comprising 394,000 people. The number of unemployed people in the state has increased by 96,000 in the past 12 months. Ohio's 7.2 percent jobless rate tops national unemployment of 5.7 percent.
Spokesman Brian Harter with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says the state's current unemployment rate is the highest since December 1992, when it was also 7.2 percent.
Department director Helen Jones-Kelley says employment declined last month in both manufacturing and services industries.
Despite a jump in unemployment from 5.4 percent in April to 6.9 percent in June in Marion County, Simmons expressed a hopeful outlook.
"It's really almost a 2 percent increase, and there's no question that that's concerning," he said, referring to the state's 7.2 percent unemployment rate for June and Marion County's 5.4 percent jobless figure in April. "I'm still very optimistic, though, that we can make progress."
In an effort to better assist job seekers and employers, Job and Family Services in October will begin making available the Web site, OhioMeansJobs.com, Simmons said. The Web site will compile electronic job listings from major commercial job boards, niche industries, national and Ohio fortune 100 companies and Ohio jobs.
"I'm certain it will definitely improve our opportunities in the state of Ohio to find employment and for employers to find employees," he said.
Email This Page!