SIDNEY — Shelby County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in March, so did 82 of Ohio’s counties.
Unemployment was 4.6 percent in Shelby County in March, down from 4.7 in February, according to the latest data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Office of Workforce Development, Bureau of Labor Market Information.
The county unemployment rate in March 2015 was 4.6 percent, which is not seasonally adjusted.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in March, up from 5.0 percent in February and the same as in March 2015.
Nationwide the unemployment rate for March was 5.0 percent, up from 4.9 percent in February and down from 5.5 percent in March 2015.
Among the state’s 88 counties, preliminary March 2016 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.6 percent in Holmes County to a high of 13.4 percent in Monroe County. From February, unemployment rates increased in three counties, decreased in 82 counties, and did not change in three counties. The comparable unemployment rate for Ohio was 5.4 percent in March.
Seven counties had unemployment rates at or below 4.0 percent in March. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Holmes were: Delaware and Mercer, 3.7; Auglaize and Wyandot, 3.9; and Hancock and Union, 4.0 percent.
Five counties had unemployment rates above 9.5 percent in March. The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe were: Morgan, 10.1; Noble, 9.8; and Jefferson and Meigs, 9.6 percent.
Surrounding counties’ unemployment rates for March (compared to the February rates) were as follows: Allen, 5.0 (down from 5.3); Auglaize, 3.9 (down from 4.0); Champaign, 4.6 (down from 4.8); Darke, 4.6 (down from 4.9); Logan, 4.5 (same); Mercer, 3.7 (down from 3.9); and Miami, 4.8 (down from 5.0).
