(1-29-25) Ohio’s Unemployment Rate increased to 4.4% in Decembr, 2024, up from 4.3% in November 2024. Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 6,800 over the month, from a revised 5,684,700 in November to 5,691,500 in December.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in December was 258,000, up from 255,000 in November 2024. The number of unemployed has increased by 48,000 in the past 12 months from 210,000. The December unemployment rate for Ohio increased 0.8 percentage points from 3.6% in December 2023.
The U.S. unemployment rate for December 2024 was 4.1%, down from 4.2% in November 2024 and up from 3.8% in December 2023.

In December 2024, the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 62.6%, unchanged from 62.6% in November 2024 and up from 61.8% in December 2023. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 62.5%, unchanged from 62.5% in November 2024 and unchanged from 62.5% in December 2023.

Mercer County regained the lowest rate at 2.8%, along with Medina County

  • Holmes County 2.9%
  • Geauga County 3.1%
  • Lake County 3.2%

Area rates for December-

  • Auglaize County 3.3%
  • Van Wert County 3.5%
  • Darke 4.0%
  • Shelby 4.0%
  • Allen County 4.3%

December highest unemployment rates included—

  • Monroe County, 7.9%
  • Ottawa County 7.5%
  • Meigs County 6.8%
  • Noble County 6.7%
  • Adams County 6.6%