DARKE COUNTY — The county’s employment took only a slight dip in September, to an estimated 3.6 percent unemployment rate compared to 3.5 percent in August, according to information just released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Office of Workforce Development, Bureau of Labor Market Information.
The county’s employment rate ranked 11th best in the state in September, which is two places better than its August ranking. County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell slightly in September to 4.5 percent from 4.6 percent in August.The rate in September 2014 was 5.3 percent.
The civilian labor force in Ohio decreased from an estimated 5,703,000 in August to about 5,696,000 in September, with the labor force participation rate estimated at 62.3 percent. About 59.5 percent of the state’s total population was working in September. The population of working age people in the state grew aby about 5,000 in September.
The U.S. unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, was estimated at 5.1 percent in September, the same as August. A year ago, in September 2014, U.S. unemployment was at 5.9 percent. An estimated 59.2 percent of the total population was working in September nationwide.
In Darke County, the labor force in August was estimated at 26,100 people, with 25,100 of those listed as employed.
Among the state’s 88 counties, preliminary September 2015 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 2.8 percent in Mercer County to a high of 8.4 percent in Monroe County. From August, unemployment rates increased in 46 counties, decreased in 11 counties and did not change in 31 counties. The comparable (not seasonally adjusted) rate for Ohio was 4.3 percent in September.
Ten counties had unemployment rates at or below 3.5 percent in September. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Mercer, were Holmes, 3.0 percent; Delaware, 3.1 percent; Auglaize, Hancock and Waynadot, 3.2 percent; Putnam and Union, 3.3 percent; Madison, 3.4 percent; and Wayne, 3.5 percent.
Four counties had unemployment rates above 6.5 percent in September. The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe, were Meigs, 6.8 percent; Scioto, 6.7 percent; and Jefferson, 6.6 percent.
Surrounding counties’ rates of unemployment for September 2015 were as follows: Auglaize, 3.2 percent, up from 3.1 percent; Mercer, 2.8 percent, up from 2.7 percent; Miami, 3.8 percent, no change; Montgomery, 4.4 percent, up from 4.3 percent; Preble, 4.1 percent, up from 4 percent; and Shelby, 3.7 percent, up from 3.6 percent.
