(9-25-24) Once again in August Mercer County had Ohio’s lowest jobless rate, 2.9 percent, down from 3.2% in July. Auglaize County had the sixth lowest rate, 3.3%. Every Ohio county saw its rate decrease from July.

Wyandot County tied Mercer County with a 2.9% rate, Putnam County was not far behind with a 3.1% rate.

Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.5% in August 2024, unchanged from 4.5% in July. Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment decreased 4,400 over the month, from a revised 5,668,400 in July to 5,664,000 in August.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 263,000, down from 264,000 in July. The number of unemployed has increased by 61,000 in the past 12 months from 202,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio has increased 1.0 percentage points from 3.5% in August 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate for August 2024 was 4.2%, down from 4.3% in July 2024 and up from 3.8% in August 2023

The 10 highest jobless rates in August were –

  • Athens County 6.4%
  • Jefferson County 6.3%
  • Meigs County 6.3%
  • Monroe County 6.2%
  • Lucas County 5.5%
  • Scioto County 5.5%
  • Noble County 5.4%
  • Jackson County 5.3%
  • Adams County 5.2%
  • Trumbull County 5.2%