More people are employed in Logan County than at any time in over two decades, Bellefontaine City Council members learned Tuesday, Aug. 8, during a regular meeting.
The unemployment rate in Logan County was 2.8 percent in May, up only slightly from 2.6 percent in April, Ben Vollrath, president/CEO of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce reported to council. The unemployment rate in June ticked back up slightly to 3.2 percent, data from the Department of Job and Family Services and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show.
These local unemployment figures represent the lowest unemployment levels recorded in Logan County since 1999, he said.
Statewide, Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent in June. This marks a significant decrease from the 3.6 percent recorded in May, and places Ohio’s joblessness level below the national average of 3.6 percent for the same period.
This is the third consecutive month Ohio has achieved its lowest unemployment rate since data collection began in 1976.
These figures are especially noteworthy given the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, Logan County suffered a severe setback as the unemployment rate skyrocketed to more than 26 percent, a consequence of the shutdowns to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Fueled by the county’s primary employment sector, manufacturing, Logan County’s recovery has been steady and impressive. The automotive industry, in particular, has played a pivotal role in driving job growth, with over 6,000 jobs tied to Japanese automotive manufacturing and logistics.
The labor force participation rate in Ohio remained steady at 62.1 percent in June, unchanged from May, and a notable increase from the 61.7 percent recorded in June 2022, Vollrath said.
This upward trend signals growing confidence in the job market and suggests that Ohioans are more actively engaging in employment opportunities.
The next regular city council meeting is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22.