SIDNEY– Unemployment numbers in Shelby County rose slightly in December.
Unemployment was 4.2 percent in Shelby County in December, up from 4.0 in November, 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 December 2014 was 3.8 percent, which is not seasonally adjusted.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in December, up from 4.5 percent in November and down from 5.1 percent in December 2014.
Nationwide the unemployment rate for December was 5.0 percent, the same as in November and down from 5.6 percent in December 2014.
Among the state’s 88 counties, preliminary December 2015 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.1 percent in Mercer County to a high of 10.7 percent in Monroe County. From November, unemployment rates increased in 68 counties, decreased in six counties, and did not change in 14 counties. The comparable unemployment rate for Ohio was 4.6 percent in December.
Eight counties had unemployment rates at or below 3.5 percent in December. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Mercer were: Holmes and Medina, 3.2; Delaware and Geauga, 3.3; Wyandot, 3.4; Auglaize and Union, 3.5 percent.
Five counties had unemployment rates at or above 8.0 percent in December. The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe were: Noble, 8.9; Morgan, 8.6; Meigs, 8.1; and Adams, 8.0 percent.
Surrounding counties’ unemployment rates for December (compared to the November rates) were as follows: Allen, 4.4 (same); Auglaize, 3.5 (same); Champaign, 4.1 (down from 4.2); Darke, 4.0 (up from 3.8); Logan, 4.1 (up from 4.0); Mercer, 3.1 (same); and Miami, 4.2 (up from 4.1).
