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County unemployment rate dropped in October

LISBON — Columbiana County’s unemployment rate continued its roller coaster ride this year by decreasing in October after increasing the month before.

The county’s jobless rate decreased by 0.3 percent to 6 percent last month, according to figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The unemployment rate is higher than October 2015, when it stood at 5.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Ohio’s unemployment rate increased slightly, to 4.9 percent in October, while the national rate decreased to 4.9 percent.

While the unemployment rate decreased, the number of countians receiving unemployment benefits increased by 73 to 2,412, with the average payout being $344 per week. The number of new claims for benefits also increased, to 289, and the number of county residents with jobs decreased by 100 last month, to an estimated 45,400.

The county’s unemployment rate in October was still the 17th highest among Ohio’s 88 counties. The jobless rate decreased in 75 counties, increased in six and remained unchanged in the other seven. The highest unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in Monroe County, while Mercer County again had the lowest jobless rate at 3 percent.

Of the adjacent Ohio counties, the county’s rate was higher than Mahoning (5.8 percent) and Stark (5 percent) but lower than Carroll (6.1 percent) and Jefferson (7.1 percent).

According to the Associated Press, non-farm employment decreased by 2,800. Job sectors seeing increases last month were manufacturing, construction, leisure and hospitality, while sectors losing jobs were professional and business services, trade, trade, transportation utilities and government.

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