Ohio unemployment rate matches all time low in March
Ohio's unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in March, matching an all-time low, as the state nears recovery of the jobs lost during the early days of the pandemic.
The rate was 3.9% in February and 4% in January, according to state employment data released Friday. The unemployment rate also was at 3.9% for four months in 2022.
The 3.8% rate is the lowest rate in data going back to 1976. The last time the rate was this low was January to March of 2001.
Ohio employers added 10,600 jobs in March, putting the state on the brink of recovering the nearly 900,000 jobs lost in February and March of 2020. The state needs about 20,000 more jobs to get back to where it was.
The number of unemployed Ohio workers fell by 6,000 in March to 218,000.
More: Ohio nitrile glove factory sign of strengthening manufacturing sector
The employment gains in March were led by two sectors: manufacturing and the sector that covers private education and health care. Both added 4,200 jobs during the month.
The professional and business services sector added 1,900 jobs and the leisure and hospitality sector created 1,300 jobs.
The construction sector cut 1,100 jobs during the month.
mawilliams@dispatch.com
@BizMarkWilliams
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: State close to recovering jobs lost from the pandemic
