(9-26-25) Ohio’s unemployment rate was 5.0% in August 2025, unchanged from 5.0% in July 2025. Ohio’s non-agricultural wage and salary employment increased 9,900 over the month, from a revised 5,720,300 in July to 5,730,200 in August.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 295,000, down from 296,000 in July 2025. The number of unemployed has increased by 37,000 in the past 12 months from 258,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio increased 0.6 percentage points from 4.4% in August 2024. The U.S. unemployment rate for August 2025 was 4.3%, up from 4.2% in July 2025 and up from 4.2% in August 2024.

In August 2025, the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 62.5%, down from 62.6% in July 2025 and unchanged from 62.5% in August 2024. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 62.3%, up from 62.2% in July 2025 and down from 62.7% in August 2024

State’s lowest rates-

  • 3.2% – Geauga County
  • 3.2% – Medina County
  • 3.5% – Lake County
  • 3.5 % – Holmes County
  • 3.6% – Mercer County
  • 3.7% – Putnam County
  • 3.9 % – Ashtabula County

State’s highest rates-

  • 7.4% – Meigs County
  • 7.2% – Pike County
  • 7.2% – Scioto County
  • 6.8% – Athens County
  • 6.5% – Monroe County
  • 6.5% – Noble County
  • 6.5% – Ross County

Area Counties –

  • 4.1% – Auglaize County
  • 4.3% – Darke County
  • 4.5% – Shelby County
  • 4.5% – Van Wert County
  • 4.7% – Paulding County
  • 5.4% – Allen County