Jobless rate here still among lowest

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The unemployment rate in Delaware County remains among the lowest in Ohio, according to the state’s latest job report.

The unemployment rate in April for Delaware County was 3.3 percent, tying it with two other counties for the second lowest rate in Ohio. The state’s overall unemployment rate was 5.2 percent.

Delaware County Economic Development Director Bob Lamb attributes the county’s low jobless rate to “the great economy that the county and central Ohio has been able to to create,” he said.

Lamb said that about 60 percent of the county’s residents have some sort of college degree. “People are drawn here because of the great quality of life, the close proximity to Columbus, the great schools and the large employers,” he said.

The nation’s jobless rate remained unchanged from March with 5 percent unemployment for April.

Delaware County’s labor force is reported by Ohio Job and Family Services to be 103,000 with 99,600 employed while 3,400 were unemployed last month.

Out of Ohio’s 88 counties, Delaware County was among eight counties with an unemployment rate at or below 3.5 percent for April. The county tied Auglaize and Holmes counties for the second lowest unemployment rate.

Mercer County had the lowest unemployment rate at 3 percent in April. Monroe County had the highest rate, topping out at 12.3 percent.

Year over year, Delaware County’s unemployment rate in April was up from last year’s 3.2 percent in April 2015.

Overall, Ohio saw a loss of 13,600 jobs in April, causing the unemployment rate to climb from 5.1 percent in March to 5.2 percent in April.

Within the state, April’s unemployed numbers were up 8,000 from March, bringing the total to 302,000. The number of unemployed has increased by 15,000 compared with April 2015.

Despite the losses, state officials say 71,900 jobs were added in the past year.

By D. Anthony Botkin

[email protected]

D. Anthony Botkin may be reached at 740-413-09-02 or on Twitter @dabotkin. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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