Area jobless rates fall again

Unemployment rates fell in both Lucas and Fulton counties in September, according to data released recently by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The jobless rate in Lucas County was 11.3 percent, down from 12.4 percent in August. The rate was 7.8 percent in September of 2008.

In Fulton County, unemployment was at 12.1 percent in September, down from 13.2 percent in August. Last September the jobless rate was 7.4 percent.

Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.1 percent in September, down from 10.8 percent in August. The state's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 5,900 over the month, from 5,103,100 in August to 5,097,200 in September.

"Ohio's unemployment rate declined in September as more Ohioans dropped out of the labor force," ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin said. "The service-providing and goods-producing sectors continued to show losses as well."

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in September was 594,000, down from 641,000 in August. The number of unemployed has increased by 190,000 in the past 12 months from 404,000. The September unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 6.8 percent in September 2008.

The U.S. unemployment rate for September was 9.8 percent, up from 9.7 percent in August.

Among the state's 88 counties, the September 2009 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 6.3 percent in Holmes County to a high of 15.3 percent in Highland County. Rates decreased in all 88 counties.

Seven counties had unemployment rates at or below 8.0 percent in September. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Holmes, were: Geauga, 6.5; Delaware, 6.7; Medina, 7.5; Mercer, 7.8; Lake, 7.9; and Union, 8.0 percent. Only two counties had unemployment rates above 15.0 percent during September. The other county with the highest rate, other than Highland, was Meigs at 15.2 percent.