SIDNEY — Unemployment rates were up in Shelby County and surrounding counties in September, compared to the August rates.
Unemployment was 4.1 percent in Shelby County in September, up from 3.7 percent in August, 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 September 2015 was 3.7 percent, which is not seasonally adjusted.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in September, up from 4.7 percent in August and up from 4.6 in September of 2015.
Nationwide the unemployment rate for September was 4.9 percent, the same as in July, and down from 5.1 percent in August 2015.
Among the state’s 88 counties, preliminary September 2016 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.2 percent in Mercer County to a high of 9.2 percent in Monroe County. From August, unemployment rates increased in 80 counties, decreased in 6 counties, and did not change in 2 counties. The comparable unemployment rate for Ohio was 4.8 percent in September.
Ten counties had unemployment rates below 4.0 percent in September. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Mercer were: Putnam, 3.5 percent; Hancock, Holmes, and Wyandot, 3.6 percent; Delaware, 3.7 percent; Auglaize and Madison, 3.8 percent; and Union and Van Wert, 3.9 percent. Eight counties had unemployment rates at or above 7.0 percent in September.
The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe were: Meigs, 7.7 percent; Jefferson and Noble, 7.5 percent; Scioto, 7.3 percent; Jackson and Pike; 7.1 percent; and Morgan county, 7.0 percent.
Surrounding counties’ unemployment rates for September (compared to the August rates) were as follows: Allen, 4.9 (up from 4.6); Auglaize, 3.8 (up from 3.5); Champaign, 5.3 (up from 4.2); Darke, 4.0 (up from 3.7); Logan, 4.3 (up from 3.9); Mercer, 3.2 (up from 3.0); and Miami, 4.4 (up from 4.0).
