SIDNEY — After a sudden spike in unemployment in all of Ohio’s 88 counties in January, February saw another decline in unemployment rates.
Unemployment was 4.7 percent in Shelby County in February, down from 5.1 in January, 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 February 2015 was 5.0 percent, which is not seasonally adjusted.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in February, the same as in January and down from 5.1 percent in February 2015.
Nationwide the unemployment rate for February was 4.9 percent, the same as in January and down from 5.5 percent in February 2015.
Among the state’s 88 counties, preliminary February 2016 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.8 percent in Delaware County to a high of 12.9 percent in Monroe County. From January, unemployment rates increased in 7 counties, decreased in 75 counties, and did not change in 6 counties. The comparable unemployment rate for Ohio was 5.6 percent in February.
Four counties had unemployment rates at or below 4.0 percent in February. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Delaware, were: Holmes and Mercer, 3.9 percent and Auglaize, 4.0 percent.
Five counties had unemployment rates at or above 10.0 percent in February. The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe, were: Noble, 11.0; Morgan, 10.8; Meigs, 10.2; and Adams, 10.0 percent.
Surrounding counties’ unemployment rates for February (compared to the January rates) were as follows: Allen, 5.3 (down from 5.5); Auglaize, 4.0 (down from 4.3); Champaign, 4.8 (down from 5.1); Darke, 4.9 (down from 5.2); Logan, 4.5 (down from 4.8); Mercer, 3.9 (down from 4.0); and Miami, 5.0 (down from 5.2).
