Delaware County’s jobless rate remains the second lowest in the state.
The county’s unemployment rate rose to 3.4 percent in May, up from 3.1 percent in April, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Delaware County’s unemployment rate matched that of Holmes and Wyandot counties.
“We are very pleased that the Delaware County unemployment rate remains the second lowest in the state,” said Delaware County Commissioner Barb Lewis. “The county, however, continues to be dedicated to providing opportunities for those who wish to rejoin the labor force or find full-time, rather than part-time employment.”
Commissioner Gary Merrell said upcoming development projects will provide even more job opportunities for county residents.
“As a county we should be very proud of our low unemployment rate,” he said. “The work ethic and the opportunity in our county is exceptional. And it will only get better with the Tanger Outlet Mall, IKEA, and other projects on the horizon.”
Mercer County in western Ohio had the state-low unemployment rate of 3.1 percent in May.
Fourteen of Ohio’s 88 counties had unemployment rates at or below 4 percent in May.
Just one had unemployment rates that topped 9 percent, with Monroe County in eastern Ohio leading the way with an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent in May. Three counties had unemployment rates of 9 percent or higher in March.
Delaware County’s unemployment rate fell from 3.8 percent in May 2014. The county’s unemployment rate reached a high of 8.1 percent in January 2010.
Just one other central Ohio county was in the top 10 for the lowest unemployment rates in May. Union County had an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent.
Each of the five counties neighboring Delaware County had unemployment rates below 5 percent. Franklin County led the way at 4 percent, followed by Knox and Licking counties at 4.2 percent, Morrow County at 4.5 percent and Marion County at 4.9 percent.
The state’s unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent in May, up from 4.6 percent in April. The jobless rate in the state was 5.4 percent in May 2014.
Nationally, the unemployment rate stood at 5.5 percent in May, up from 5.4 percent in April, but a decrease from the rate of 6.3 percent in May 2014.