Ohio adds jobs — and to its unemployment rate — in May

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The most recent economic data shows that Ohio added jobs in May and in April, but it also shows that the state’s unemployment rate is rising.

Ohio added 21,200 jobs during May, bringing total employment up to 5,662,600 jobs. Data released Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services also showed that the state added 1,300 jobs in April when past figures showed a loss of jobs.

Monthly jobs and employment numbers are preliminary when first released, and are often revised the following month. So, seeing a loss of jobs turn into a slight gain isn’t uncommon.

The U.S. unemployment rate for May 2024 was 4.0%, up from 3.9% in April 2024.

Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.2% in May, up from 4% in April and 3.8% in March. Ohio’s unemployment rate had been under 4% for 16 straight months and had even dipped as low as 3.3%, a record-low for the state.

The jobs count is based on the number of jobs, full- or part-time, in Ohio. The unemployment rate is based on the employment status of Ohioans working or looking for work.

Part of that rising unemployment rate may be more people looking for work.

The labor force, a measure of people who have jobs or are looking for work, grew by 9,000 people in May and by 8,000 people in April. It is now up to 5,818,000.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were roughly 5,918,000 in Ohio looking for work, or about 100,000 more than are today, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in May was 243,000, up from 230,000 in April

Sean McDonnell is the business reporter for cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer. You can reach him at smcdonnell@cleveland.com.