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County jobless rate lowest in 18 years

LISBON — Columbiana County’s unemployment rate dropped in May to its lowest point since the end of the Clinton presidency.

The county’s jobless rate was 4.5 percent last month, compared to 4.8 percent in April, according to figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. It was last this low in November 2000.

Meanwhile, Ohio’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in May at 4.3 percent, while the national jobless rate dropped from 3.9 percent to 3.8 percent.

The number of county residents receiving unemployment compensation dropped nearly by half in May, from 2,146 in April to 1,287, with recipients receiving an average weekly benefit of $358. The county once had as many as 10,147 people receiving unemployment benefits and that was in January 2009.

The estimated number of county residents with jobs was 45,300 in May, an increase of 500 from the month before. This is based on an estimated workforce of 47,400. The county’s workforce peaked at an estimated 55,900 in June 2003, according to the ODJFS.

The unemployment rate in May decreased in 41 Ohio counties, increased in 32 and remained unchanged in 15. Among the adjoining Ohio counties the county’s rate was lower than Mahoning (5 percent) and Jefferson (5.5 percent), the same as Carroll and higher than Stark (4.4 percent).

Ohio added 22,600 non-farm and salary jobs in May, with gains reported in trade/transportation/utilities, financial activities, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, education and health services, construction, logging, manufacturing and mining. Government employment at state and local levels in Ohio gained 2,500 jobs alone.

tgiambroni@mojonews.com

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