Staff report

Ohioans filed 47,250 continued unemployment claims during April 12-18, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Thursday.

The number was 3,373 fewer than the previous week.

The agency reported that 5,377 initial unemployment claims were filed last week. The number was 494 more than the previous week.

The total number of claims filed for the week was 52,627.

Ohio’s unemployment rate in February was 4.2%. The national unemployment rate in February was 4.4%. Ohio’s labor force participation rate in February was 62.2%. The national labor force participation rate in February was 62.0%.