Central Ohio’s unemployment rate edged lower in July as the region continues its recovery from the pandemic.
The unemployment rate dipped to 5.4% last month from 5.7% in June, according to state employment data released Tuesday. Only Cincinnati’s rate of 5.3% was lower than the rate for Columbus among the state’s metro areas.
The Columbus region added 8,100 jobs last month, led by a gain of 3,500 jobs in the trade, transportation and utilities sector. The professional and business sector added 2,800 jobs last month and the leisure and hospitality sector added 2,100 jobs.
Government employment fell by 1,000 jobs, the most of any sector.
Delaware and Union counties had the lowest unemployment rates in the region at 4.4% followed by 4.6% for Madison County.
Licking County’s unemployment rate in July was 5.0% and the rate for Fairfield and Pickaway counties was 5.2%. Morrow County’s unemployment rate was 5.5% and the rate for Hocking County was 5.5%.
The rate for Franklin County was 5.7% while the rate for Columbus was 6.0%.
Before the pandemic, the rate for Franklin County and Columbus was typically in line with the overall rate for the region, but Ohio’s big cities have been slower to bounce back from the coronavirus than their suburbs and their unemployment rates have remained higher than surrounding counties.
Perry County had the highest unemployment rate in the region at 6.3%.
Rates fell in 86 of Ohio’s 88 counties in July, remained the same in one county and increased in one county.
The data released by the state Tuesday are not adjusted for seasonal differences.
Holmes County in northeast Ohio had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.7%.
Athens County in southeast Ohio and Jefferson County in eastern Ohio had the highest unemployment rates last month at 8.1%.
@BizMarkWilliams
