SIDNEY — After a slight jump in unemployment rates in September, Shelby County and surrounding counties dropped back to rates similar to August numbers, in October.
Unemployment was 3.8 percent in Shelby County in October, down from 4.1 percent in September, according to the latest data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Office of Workforce Development, Bureau of Labor Market Information.
The county unemployment rate in October 2015 was 3.6 percent, which is not seasonally adjusted.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in October, up from 4.8 percent in September and up from 4.7 in October of 2015.
Nationwide the unemployment rate for September was 4.9 percent, down from 5.0 in September, and down from 5.0 percent in October 2015.
Among the state’s 88 counties, preliminary October 2016 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.0 percent in Mercer County to a high of 9.1 percent in Monroe County. From September, unemployment rates decreased in 75 counties, did not change in 7 counties, and increased in 6 counties. The comparable unemployment rate for Ohio was 4.6 percent in October.
Six counties had unemployment rates below 3.5 percent in October. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Mercer were: Putnam, 3.3 percent and Delaware, Hancock, Holmes, and Wyandot, 3.4 percent.
Six counties had unemployment rates at or above 7.0 percent in October. The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe, were: Noble, 7.5 percent; Jackson and Meigs, 7.1 percent; and Jefferson and Morgan, 7.0 percent.
Surrounding counties’ unemployment rates for October (compared to the September rates) were as follows: Allen, 4.7 (down from 4.9); Auglaize, 3.6 (down from 3.8); Champaign, 4.2 (down from 5.3); Darke, 3.7 (down from 4.0); Logan, 3.9 (down from 4.3); Mercer, 3.0 (down from 3.2); and Miami, 4.1 (down from 4.4).
