Ohio’s unemployment rate up slightly as state adds jobs, and job seekers

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio saw its unemployment rate, its total number of jobs and the number of people looking for work rise in March, according to new data.

Ohio’s unemployment rate increased to 3.8% in March, up from 3.7% in February, according to data released Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The state added 11,500 jobs during March, bringing total employment to 5,632,800 jobs. The labor force, a measure of people who have jobs or are looking for work, also expanded from 5,797,000 to 5,801,000 people.

The number of unemployed people rose to 220,000, an increase from 214,000 in February. The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 3.8%, matching Ohio’s rate.

Ohio’s labor force participation rate, defined as the percentage of those of working age who are working or actively seeking a job, remained at 61.8% in March, unchanged from February. March 2023. Nationally, the labor force participation rate was 62.7%.