By 1812Blockhouse
The resurgence of the economy as the pandemic eases has resulted in employment gains throughout Ohio, including here in north central Ohio.
In fact, Richland County had one of the biggest decreases in unemployment last month in the entire state.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.7% in March, down from 5.0% in February. Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 12,700 over the month, from a revised 5,302,200 in February to 5,314,900 in March 2021. The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in March was 272,000, down from 288,000 in February. The number of unemployed has decreased by 15,000 in the past 12 months from 287,000.
The unemployment rate for Ohio was 4.9% in March 2020.
The largest sectors with employment gains in Ohio last month included construction, manufacturing, and educational/health services.
The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 6.0%, down from 6.2% in February, and up from 4.4% in March 2020.
Richland County’s March rate stood at 5.0% (down from 6.2% last month). Surrounding counties had the following rates:
- Ashland 4.0%
- Crawford 5.0%
- Huron 6.1%
- Knox 3.7%
- Morrow 4.1%
Holmes County had the lowest unemployment rate statewide for March, at 2.4%. Both Monroe and Mahoning Counties had 6.6%, tied for highest in Ohio.
Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
