Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in May, down from 5.5 percent in April, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. In Crawford County, the rate dropped nearly a percent from 6.6% to 5.7%.
"While Ohio's unemployment rate improved in May, there was little change in the number of people working during the month," said ODJFS Director Barbara Riley. "Gains in employment in service-providing industries were offset by losses in manufacturing."
The May unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 6.0 percent in May 2005. The Crawford County unemployment rate is down considerably from a year ago when it was 6.3%.
The U.S. unemployment rate for May was 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent in April.
Among the state's 88 counties, the May 2006 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.1 percent in Delaware County to a high of 9.2 percent in Monroe County. Rates decreased in 87 of the counties. The comparable rate for Ohio in May was 4.9 percent.
Nine counties had unemployment rates below 4.0 percent in May. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Delaware, were: Geauga and Mercer, 3.3; Holmes, 3.4; Medina, 3.8; Auglaize, Lake, Putnam and Shelby, 3.9 percent.
Five counties had unemployment rates above 7.0 percent during May. The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe, were: Pike, 7.9; Jackson, 7.4; Meigs, 7.2; and Vinton, 7.1 percent.
Click here to view rates from all 88 Ohio Counties.
