Trending
Ohio's unemployment rate was 3.3% in August 2026, down from 3.4% in July 2026. Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 2,100 over the month from a revised 5,686,600 in July to 5,688,700 in August.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services issued its findings last week. Figures have been seasonally adjusted.
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 195,000, down from 200,000 in July 2026. The number of unemployed has decreased by 66,000 in the past 12 months from 261,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio decreased 1.1 percentage points from 4.4% in August 2025.
The U.S. unemployment rate for August 2026 was 4.1%, unchanged from 4.1% in July 2026 and down from 4.3% in August 2025.
In August 2026, the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 61.3%, down from 61.4% in July 2026 and down from 62.3% in August 2025. During the same period, the national labor force participation rate was 61.6%, up from 61.4% in July 2026 and down from 62.3% in August 2025.
Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 2,100 over the month, from a revised 5,686,600 in July to 5,688,700 in August, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Employment in goods-producing industries, at 975,700, increased 3,900 over the month as gains in construction (+4,600) surpassed losses in manufacturing (-700). Mining and logging did not change over the month. The private service-providing sector, at 3,926,100, decreased 2,200 as losses in private educational and health services (-2,100); leisure and hospitality (-1,900); financial activities (-1,400); professional and business services (-600); and other services (-200) outweighed gains in trade, transportation, and utilities (+3,500) and information (+500). Government employment, at 786,900, increased 400 as gains in local (+300) and state (+200) government surpassed losses in federal government (-100).
From August 2025 to August 2026, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 9,900. Employment in goods-producing industries increased 30,500, led by construction, which added 17,800 jobs. Manufacturing added 12,500 jobs, in durable goods (+11,900) and nondurable goods (+600). Mining and logging gained 200 jobs over the year. Employment in the private service-providing sector decreased 10,700 as losses in professional and business services (-2,800); leisure and hospitality (-2,400); other services (-1,900); trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,700); financial activities (-1,600); and information (-1,500) outweighed gains in private educational and health services (+1,200). Government employment decreased 9,900 over the year, in federal (-4,600); state (-4,300); and local (-1,000) government.