Local counties see decreases

The Clermont County unemployment rate held steady for the third month in a row in November. The rate has been at its lowest since May 2009 beginning in September.

Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped to a tenth of a percentage point above Clermont’s at 9.3 percent putting the state rate even with the national rate for the first time since 2002, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Of the counties surrounding Clermont, Brown County also held steady with its October unemployment rate.

Highland, Clinton, Warren, Butler, and Hamilton all saw slight decreases in unemployment. Clinton county continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the state at 15.4 percent followed by Ottawa County, east of Toledo, at 15.2 percent, and Highland County at 14.2 percent.

State-wide, service industry jobs showed the largest increase followed by manufacturing, government employment, and educational and health services. Ohio saw a net increase of 7,800 jobs in November.

More than 20,000 manufacturing jobs have been added in Ohio in the last 12 months.

The transportation and utilities sector saw the largest number of jobs lost in November.

In Nov. 2009 10,400 Clermont County residents were unemployed compared to 9,800 in 2010. There were also an additional 500 residents eligible for employment in Nov. 2010.