Counties with the highest unemployment in Ohio

Canva

Unemployment rates are rising across U.S. metropolitan areas, provoking alarm across the nation and likely leading to interest rate cuts in September.

As of July, unemployment rates increased in 350 out of 389 U.S. metros areas—including 47 of the 51 largest metros, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Ohio, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in July 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

The national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 4.3%. Still, it's up substantially from 3.5% during the same month last year and has climbed to the highest rate since November 2021. By comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

The Federal Reserve has shifted its focus from curbing inflation to unemployment, indicating plans to cut interest rates in the coming weeks and months to alleviate economic strain and avoid further job losses.

Since last year, unemployment has spiked in over half of states—a signal often indicating a looming recession, as Piper Sandler Chief Global Economist Nancy Lazar told Business Insider. These jobless rates, paired with layoffs among major U.S. employers like Google and Tesla, have sparked concern among Americans. Minus a major economic blow, economists continue to forecast that the U.S. is tracking toward an incremental slowdown in growth known as a "soft landing."

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Ohio.

You may also like: Highest-rated wineries in Ohio, according to Yelp

#50. Ashland County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,490 people (1,265 unemployed)

#49. Stark County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 186,039 people (8,986 unemployed)

#48. Hamilton County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 437,401 people (21,156 unemployed)

#47. Williams County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,278 people (892 unemployed)

#46. Fulton County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,314 people (1,096 unemployed)

You may also like: Counties where the most opioids are dispensed in Ohio

#45. Marion County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,652 people (1,357 unemployed)

#44. Wood County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 71,900 people (3,537 unemployed)

#43. Lorain County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 160,527 people (7,825 unemployed)

#42. Cuyahoga County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 626,783 people (30,878 unemployed)

#41. Harrison County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,021 people (353 unemployed)

You may also like: Counties where homes are selling the fastest in Ohio

#40. Allen County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 48,157 people (2,394 unemployed)

#39. Clark County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 65,284 people (3,268 unemployed)

#38. Summit County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 274,096 people (13,777 unemployed)

#37. Carroll County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,930 people (663 unemployed)

#36. Sandusky County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,700 people (1,577 unemployed)

#35. Defiance County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,203 people (941 unemployed)

#34. Ottawa County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,793 people (1,176 unemployed)

#33. Columbiana County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 45,976 people (2,400 unemployed)

#32. Perry County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,620 people (881 unemployed)

#31. Guernsey County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,483 people (986 unemployed)

#30. Montgomery County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 255,364 people (13,459 unemployed)

#29. Clinton County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,767 people (1,014 unemployed)

#28. Brown County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,273 people (1,098 unemployed)

#27. Seneca County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,092 people (1,476 unemployed)

#26. Erie County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 40,214 people (2,188 unemployed)

You may also like: Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Ohio

#25. Richland County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 52,724 people (2,863 unemployed)

#24. Highland County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,037 people (984 unemployed)

#23. Ashtabula County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 44,471 people (2,434 unemployed)

#22. Vinton County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,574 people (314 unemployed)

#21. Washington County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,882 people (1,553 unemployed)

#20. Belmont County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 28,749 people (1,604 unemployed)

#19. Pike County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,584 people (664 unemployed)

#18. Hardin County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,148 people (748 unemployed)

#17. Henry County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,248 people (758 unemployed)

#16. Coshocton County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,257 people (833 unemployed)

You may also like: Highest-rated breweries in Ohio

#15. Crawford County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,441 people (1,076 unemployed)

#14. Mahoning County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 101,392 people (5,837 unemployed)

#13. Adams County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,668 people (691 unemployed)

#12. Jackson County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,987 people (760 unemployed)

#11. Huron County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,103 people (1,725 unemployed)

You may also like: Counties with the most prewar homes in Ohio

#10. Trumbull County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 85,633 people (5,091 unemployed)

#9. Gallia County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,214 people (730 unemployed)

#8. Lawrence County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,216 people (1,453 unemployed)

#7. Scioto County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,793 people (1,931 unemployed)

#6. Noble County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,803 people (311 unemployed)

You may also like: Ohio ranks #30 in mental health care deserts

#5. Athens County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,604 people (1,705 unemployed)

#4. Jefferson County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,968 people (1,961 unemployed)

#3. Monroe County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,324 people (380 unemployed)

#2. Meigs County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,700 people (622 unemployed)

#1. Lucas County

- July unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 3.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 214,176 people (15,765 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

You may also like: Best counties to live in Ohio

Wednesday, October 9, 2024