(1-24-23) Among the state’s 88 counties, preliminary December 2023 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 1.8% in Mercer County to a high of 5.8% in Monroe County.

From November, unemployment rates increased in 60 counties, decreased in 12, and remained unchanged in 16. The comparable December unemployment rate for Ohio was 3.1%.

Nine counties had unemployment rates below 2.5% in December. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Mercer, were: Holmes, 2.1%; Wyandot, 2.2%; Auglaize and Van Wert, 2.3%; and Delaware, Hancock, Putnam, and Wayne, 2.4%.

Nine counties had unemployment rates at or above 4.5% in December. The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe, were: Ottawa, 5.5%; Meigs, 5.3%; Noble, 5.1%; Adams, 4.9%; Huron and Jefferson, 4.7%, Morgan, 4.6%; and Vinton, 4.5%.