(4-24-24) Among the state’s 88 counties, preliminary March 2024 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.1%, up from 2.9% last month, in Mercer County to a high of 7.3% in Meigs County.

From February, unemployment rates increased in 55 counties, decreased in 24, and remained unchanged in nine. The comparable March unemployment rate for Ohio was 4.5%.

Five counties had unemployment rates at or below 3.5% in March. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Mercer, were: Holmes, 3.3%; Putnam and Wyandot, 3.4% and Auglaize, 3.5%.

Five counties had unemployment rates above 6.5% in March. The counties with the highest rates, other than Meigs, were: Adams, Monroe, and Noble, 6.9% and Ottawa 6.8%.

In Indiana…Jay County posted an unemployment rate of 3.8% in March. The rate was down 0.3 percentage points from February after it had gone up a combined 1.5 percentage points the previous two months. It was still 0.3 percentage points higher than in March 2023.

Area Indian rates for March –

  • Jay County: 3.8%
  • Adams County: 3.7%
  • Wells County: 3.5%
  • Randolph County: 4.2%
  • Blackford County: 4.7%
  • Delaware County: 4.9%
  • Lowest rate in Indiana – Gibson County 3%
  • Highest rate in Indiana – Lake County 6%