Unemployment rates fall in Clark, Champaign counties

Students from Logan County high schools got the opportunity to meet local employers at a career fair at Indian Lake High School. JEFF GUERINI/STAFF

Students from Logan County high schools got the opportunity to meet local employers at a career fair at Indian Lake High School. JEFF GUERINI/STAFF

Unemployment rates fell in both Clark and Champaign counties last month and Ohio employers added slightly more than 15,000 jobs last month, according to state data released Tuesday morning.

In Clark County, the unemployment rate dipped to 5.6 percent, down slightly from 5.9 percent the previous month. The unemployment rate in Clark County was also slightly lower compared to the same month last year, when the rate was 5.7 percent, according to information from the Department of Job and Family Services.

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Champaign County saw a similar result, with the unemployment rate falling to 5.6 percent last month. That’s 0.3 percent lower than January’s figure and slightly lower than February one year ago, when the unemployment rate was 5.7 percent.

When seasonally adjusted, Clark County’s unemployment figures have remained relatively stable since about last June, said Bill LaFayette, owner of Regionomics, a Columbus-based economics and workforce consulting firm.

“At least immediately you’re holding steady,” LaFayette said.

The unemployment rate in Ohio ticked up slightly to 5.1 percent, partly due to an additional 35,000 people who entered the labor force last month.

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The U.S. unemployment rate in February was 4.7 percent, slightly lower than January and 0.2 percentage points lower than the same month last year.

Information released Tuesday from the state showed like Ohio, more people entered the civilian labor force in Clark County, which includes both people working and those looking for employment. About 800 people were added to Clark County’s labor force in February, according to state data. Champaign County’s labor force increased by about 300 people.

Ohio saw the biggest gains in industries like construction and manufacturing, which outweighed losses in industries like mining and logging, according to the state. Job creation in Ohio has cooled off compared to the previous year, said Orphe Divounguy, an economist with the conservative-leaning Buckeye Institute.

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However, the investments in goods-producing industries were a bright spot in the latest state numbers, Divounguy said.

“The construction sector created 6,000 new jobs in February,” Divounguy said. “Despite the employment gains, the unemployment rate ticked up as more Ohioans entered the labor force and job creation failed to keep up with the new surge of hopeful job seekers.”

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In-depth coverage

The Springfield News-Sun will continue to provide unmatched coverage of jobs and the economy in Clark and Champaign Counties. The paper regularly reports on monthly job figures provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Unemployment rates:

Clark County:

December — 4.9 percent

January — 5.9 percent

February — 5.6 percent

Champaign County:

December — 4.1 percent

January — 4.9 percent

February — 4.6 percent

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