Although the 1.4 percent drop in Ohio unemployment indicates more than 90,000 jobs were created, the percentage does not reflect the decrease in workforce.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in December, down from 9.5 percent a year earlier. That drop indicates a 91,000-job increase, but in reality only 6,000 jobs were added during that time period, according to an Ohio Department of Job and Family Services database.
The unemployment rate is measured by the number of able workers in the state, which includes those aged 16 and up who are employed and those who are unemployed but “actively seeking work."
But it doesn’t take into account the workforce decrease of 85,000 this year, to 5.8 million from about 5.9 million, according to the agency database.
Ohio’s unemployment is .4 percent lower than the national average of 8.5 percent.
dd195710@ohiou.edu
