OH Employment Is Up…But So Is Unemployment?

We got fired from the chess factory because we couldn’t work knights. ☹️ We also got let go from the investment bank because we kept losing interest. 📉 But the real stinger? Getting canned by the psychic hotline. We just didn’t see it coming. 😱🔮

Jobs are on the up and up in the Buckeye state, hitting record employment numbers in 2024. However, unemployment is up, too. ⏫ 

 

Here’s Five Fast Facts on the state of employment in Ohio:

  1. 🌡️ Hot, Hot, Hot - Thanks to a strong 2024, Ohio ended the year on a four-month hot streak of job growth. In December, employment in the Buckeye State kicked up a slight notch. Employers created 6,800 jobs (a 0.1% increase).
  1. 💻 Real Farms > Cube Farms - Looking further into the end of 2024, Ohio’s nonfarm payrolls (AKA jobs that are NOT on the farm) got a boost of 5,200 workers in November (0.1%). They rose by 3,900 in October (0.1%) and by 13,500 in September (0.2%). Compared to 2023’s 58,800 net new jobs, the Buckeye State finished 2024 with 61,400 net new jobs.
  1. 💼 Bounce House - Ohio’s also setting new total employment records. Pre-pandemic, nonfarm employment hit a high of 5.610 million workers in January of 2020. Along with the rest of the nation, OH was smacked with massive job loss during COVID. However, the state bounced back and hit a new record of 5.613 million jobs in May of 2023.
  1. 👋 Pink Slip - While that’s all fine and dandy, Ohio’s unemployment numbers are also rising. In December 2024, the state’s unemployment rate increased by 0.1% and reached 4.4%. Compare that to the national unemployment rate, which fell by 0.1% to 4.1%.
  1. 🌩️ Stormy Weather - Some researchers blame rising inflation on the increase in unemployment. New tariffs coming into play may also impact jobs and the economy in a big way. For better or for worse, we’ll have to hold onto our hats as we wait and see.

🔥Bottom line: This game of confusing jobs numbers can be a real head scratcher. Washington State had a similar thing happen last year. The takeaway message? If you have a job you love and it puts turkey on the table, you’re one step ahead of the game.  

Ohio job seekers: how’s it been going for you?

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