Central Ohio's unemployment rate hit its highest level in two years as all counties in the region saw an increase in jobless levels, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Tuesday.
The seven-county region's unemployment rate hit 5.1 percent in January, up from 4.8 percent in December. The unemployment rate a year ago was 4.9 percent. The region's jobless rate has hit 5 percent or above only twice in the past two years, once in June with 5 percent and once in February 2006 with 5.2 percent.
The state's jobless rate nudged down in January at 5.5 percent from 5.8 percent in December. National unemployment also fell during the month to 4.9 percent from 5 percent in December.
Columbus mirrored Franklin County's January jobless rate increase at 4.9 percent from 4.7 percent in December. Cincinnati's jobless rate ticked up to 5.6 percent from 5.3 percent in January as unemployment in Cleveland climbed to 8.1 percent from 7.8 percent the month before.
Among the state's 88 counties, Morgan County had the highest jobless rate at 11.7 percent while Delaware County tied with Holmes County for the lowest rate at 4.3 percent.
The state plans to release Ohio unemployment statistics for February on March 21, with county and metro-area statistics to follow March 25.
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