The unemployment rate for Seneca County has dipped for the fourth straight month.
According to information from Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the jobless rate for the county was 9.2 percent in May, down from 9.4 percent in April. The rate also decreased from 11.2 percent in May 2010.
May statistics also included an increase in the civilian labor force, all people employed or looking for work. In May, the estimate was at 29,300, up for the first time since January. The estimate was 29,800 in May 2010.
The estimated number of employed in May was 26,600, an increase from 26,200 in April and 26,500 in May 2010.
Also, the number unemployed in May and April was 2,700, down from 3,300 in May 2010. The number represents people not employed during the reference week, but who actively were seeking work, waiting to be called back to a job from which they were laid off or waiting to report within 30 days to a new payroll job.
May was a strong month for counties surrounding Seneca, most of which had a decrease in the unemployment rate. Crawford County was the highest, having increased to 11.8 percent in May from 11.4 percent in April, while Hancock was the lowest, even with an increase to 7.6 percent in May from 7.4 percent in April.
Fact Box
| Unemployment rates | |||
| Percentage unemployed | |||
| by county | |||
| County | May 2011 | April 2011 | May 2010 |
| Crawford | 11.8 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Hancock | 7.6 | 7.4 | 8.7 |
| Huron | 10.6 | 11.6 | 12.2 |
| Ottawa | 9.9 | 12.5 | 10.6 |
| Sandusky | 8.3 | 8.7 | 9.7 |
| Seneca | 9.2 | 9.4 | 11.2 |
| Wood | 8.7 | 8.5 | 10 |
| Wyandot | 10.4 | 9.7 | 11.1 |
Ohio's seasonally adjusted rate was 8.5 percent in May, up from 8.4 percent in April. The May 2010 seasonally adjusted rate was 9.8 percent.
Nationally, the seasonally adjusted rate was unchanged from April to May at 8.7 percent. The U.S. rate was 9.3 percent in 2010.
