Sun Sep 05 2010
By JARED ORZOLEK
The unemployment rate fell from June to July in each of the six area counties, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The percentage of Defiance County workers receiving jobless benefits dropped from 16.8 percent in June to 15.4 percent in July.
"It sounds like we are moving in the right direction," said Defiance Mayor Bob Armstrong. "I hope we continue moving in the right direction and rebound as we head into fall."
Fulton County's rate went from 15.7 percent in June to 14.7 percent in July.
Economic development director Lisa Arend said there are signs manufacturing activity is picking up in Fulton County.
"We are starting to see that some of our manufacturing plants have called people back," Arend said.
She said Fulton County will take a hit later this year when the Nobel Automotive factory in Archbold shuts down and puts 75 more people out of work, but added that she hopes these job losses are offset by continued gains in manufacturing.
Other northwest Ohio counties also saw declining unemployment rates in July.
In Williams County, the July rate remained the highest in Ohio at 17.5 percent, but down slightly from 17.6 percent in June. Henry County's rate dropped from 14.8 percent in June to 14.1 percent in July.
Paulding County's rate dropped to 14.5 percent in July, down from 15 percent in June.
Putnam County continued to have the lowest unemployment rate in the area, dropping from 10.3 percent in June to 9.7 percent in July.
Four of the six area counties have unemployment rates higher than the state average.
The statewide unemployment rate was 11.2 percent in July, up slightly from 11.1 percent in June, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).
Ohio's non-farm wage and salary employment increased 9,800 over the month, from 5,113,100 in June to 5,122,900 in July.
"Ohio's labor market remained relatively unchanged in July," ODJFS director Douglas Lumpkin said. "Job gains in service-providing industries were partially offset by job losses in goods-producing sectors."
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in July was 664,000, up from 663,000 in June.
The number of unemployed has increased by 265,000 in the past 12 months, from 399,000. The July unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 6.7 percent in July 2008.
The U.S. unemployment rate for July was 9.4 percent, a slight drop from 9.5 percent in June.
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