Jobless rate dips across region in October

Albany County had the lowest rate at 2.8 percent, with Niobrara at 2.9 percent.

The state’s jobless rate dipped marginally in October to 4.4 percent in October, from 4.5 in September, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) said. Employment was up by 12,931, and the number of unemployed increased by 2,066.

The number of people estimated to be unemployed in October is now put at 164,500.

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the November county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, December 20 and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data on Tuesday, December 13.

The Buffalo Niagara region’s unemployment rate continued to hover around 5 percent during October, extending a stretch of modest joblessness that has left unemployment at a nine-year low.

In Lucas County, the rate was 5 percent, down from 5.2 percent.

The preliminary October 2016 jobless rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the 5.5 percent rate recorded for the state in October 2015. Local government education added 160 jobs. According to DEO, 3,500 private-sector jobs have been added in the Pensacola area over the past year. Darke County reported 3.7 percent.

Unemployment generally went down last month in metro Toledo even as the state rate rose.

The jobless rate for White men hasn’t changed since July (4.1 percent) and the share of White male workers that were employed (69 percent) hasn’t changed since August.

Proctor says that’s at least partially due to more people looking for work. In October, that rate had decreased slightly to 3.2 percent. “The highest unemployment rate prior to 2003 was probably around 30 percent in 2000”, Statistician-General Pali Lehohla told a news conference.

While rates are slightly higher than a year ago in most other big cities and counties in the region, many economists say current unemployment levels reflect a tightening labor market and improved jobs outlook.