The unemployment rate for Crawford County spiked last month compared with the previous year.
Not seasonally-adjusted unemployment figures in Crawford were 6.5 percent in November compared with 4.4 percent in November 2014, according to data released from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
“We had the unusual situation of a year-over-year increase in the unemployment estimate in Crawford County,” said Cleveland-based economist George Zeller.
Crawford’s civilian labor force declined from 19,800 in November 2014 to 19,100 last month, while employment dropped by 1,000 people to 17,800 in November.
The Ohio unemployment rate was 4.5 percent last month compared with 4.4 percent in October and 5.2 percent in November 2014.
“We had the unfortunate situation that the statewide Ohio year over year job growth rate was also unfavorable, with Ohio now having a year over year job growth rate that is below the USA national average for the 37th consecutive month,” Zeller said. “The statewide decline in manufacturing was troubling, and it had a negative impact in north central Ohio, which is highly dependant on manufacturing.”
Although Ohio lost 600 manufacturing jobs from October to November, the state gained 11,600 manufacturing last month from November 2014.
The U.S. unemployment rate for November was 5 percent, unchanged from October and down from 5.8 percent in November 2014.
“Going forward, with additional cuts anticipated in government spending, and with the Federal Reserve beginning the process of raising interest rates, there is cause for concern going forward into December and then 2016,” Zeller said.
The not seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in Morrow County dropped from 4.8 percent in November 2014 to 4.7 percent last month. Knox County’s unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in November compared with 4.4 percent in the same month from the previous year. The unemployment rate in Richland County was 5.4 percent compared with 5.6 percent last year.
