The number of reported jobless Ohioans dropped during the month of April to 7.4 percent, down from 7.5 in March, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The state saw gains of about 2,900 jobs in government and 1,900 in professional and business services.

Manufacturing has been helping to drive the recovery in Ohio, but that sector lost 1,400 jobs last month.

Press Release:

Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted)

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in April, down from 7.5 percent in March, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment fell 3,400 over the month, from the revised 5,141,300 in March to 5,137,900 in April.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in April was 431,000, down from 438,000 in March. The number of unemployed has decreased by 79,000 in the past 12 months from 510,000. The April unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 8.8 percent in April 2011.

The U.S. unemployment rate for April was 8.1 percent, down from 8.2 percent in March and down from 9.0 percent in April 2011.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment decreased 3,400 over the month, from 5,141,300 in March to 5,137,900 in April, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Service-providing industries decreased 2,000 over the month to 4,300,000. Job losses occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,700), leisure and hospitality (-2,000), financial activities (-1,400), and other services (-400). Growth occurred in government (+2,900), professional and business services (+1,900), education and health services (+1,500), and information (+200). Goods-producing industries, at 837,900, were down 1,400 from March. Manufacturing jobs fell 1,400 while mining and logging and construction were unchanged.

From April 2011 to April 2012, nonagricultural wage and salary employment rose by 47,200. Service-providing industries added 29,300 jobs. The most significant gains occurred in trade, transportation and utilities (+16,600), education and health services (+16,500), and professional and business services (+7,300). Also showing improvement were information (+1,700) and other services (+1,300). Over-the-year declines were posted in leisure and hospitality (-8,200), government (-3,100), and financial activities (-2,800). Goods-producing industries increased 17,900. Manufacturing gained 16,600 jobs through expansion in durable goods (+12,000) and nondurable goods (+4,600). Construction added 1,000 jobs while mining and logging employment increased 300.

Press Release from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services:

Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in January, down from 7.9 percent in December, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment rose 32,800 over the month, from the revised 5,094,300 in December to 5,127,100 in January.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in January was 447,000, down from 458,000 in December. The number of unemployed has decreased by 79,000 in the past 12 months from 526,000. The January unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 9.0 percent in January 2011.

The U.S. unemployment rate for January was 8.3 percent, down from 8.5 percent in December.

Whether it's to earn a paycheck or advance in their careers, Generation Y employees in the U.S. are job jumping-- more often than those from older generations.

"Younger workers are more likely to take jobs in retail or fields like that, where there is higher turnover," Ben Johnson said, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services spokesperson.

Data company Identified.com sifted through four million profiles of Gen Y users, ages 18 to 29, on Facebook in November of 2011. Forbes.com reports 80 percent of those reviewed listed at least one college or university and only 36 percent listed place of employment.

Top 10 Gen Y Employers:

1. Armed Forces

2. Wal-Mart

3. Starbucks

4. Target

5. Best Buy

6. McDonald’s

7. Abercrombie & Fitch

8. YMCA

9. CVS Caremark

10. UPS

Forbes.com interviewed Dan Schawbel, the founder of Millennial Branding, regarding the findings. Schwabel said Gen Y employees will spend about two years at their first job, and will have close to nine jobs between age 18 and 32.

While Johnson says it's "logical" that older workers are keeping their management positions longer, the economy's role may mean a long wait for Gen Y workers interested in career advancement.

"Older workers are staying in the workforce long," he said.

"For a number of different reasons, during the recession and now after in the recovery period, older workers have decided not to retire or not to pursue maybe some other career option that might have been considering in better economic times."

From 2009 to 2010, Johnson said unemployment was the highest among young workers.

"Layoffs can often strike those who were most recently hired, older workers are holding onto their jobs, creating few openings, it makes sense that unemployment would be highest among the youngest Ohioans," he said.

Johnson says efforts are in motion to assist anyone searching for employment.

The website OhioMeansJobs.com, is the state's job aggregation tool for job hunters.

The state is in the process of developing programs with the Ohio Board of Regents to keep younger workers find employment within Ohio.

Ohio's unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in August, up slightly from 9.0 percent in July, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 700 over the month, from the revised 5,117,200 in July to 5,116,500 in August.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 536,000, up from 529,000 in July. The number of unemployed has decreased by 47,000 in the past 12 months from 583,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 9.9 percent in August 2010.

The U.S. unemployment rate for August remained unchanged from July at 9.1 percent.

Total Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment decreased 700 over the month, from 5,117,200 in July to 5,116,500 in August, according to the latest business establishment survey conducted by ODJFS.

Goods-producing industries, at 821,400, were down 400 from July driven by a decline in manufacturing (-1,600). Slight improvements were posted in construction (+900) and mining and logging (+300). Service-providing industries decreased 300 over the month to 4,295,100. The most significant losses occurred in professional and business services (-2,500) and trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,300). Other industries losing jobs included information (-900), financial activities ( 800) and government (-700). Other services (+3,200), educational and health services (+2,300), and leisure and hospitality (+400) experienced over-the-month gains.

Over the past 12 months, nonagricultural wage and salary employment advanced 80,300. Service-providing industries added 60,300 jobs. The most significant gains occurred in educational and health services (+25,900), professional and business services (+17,300), and leisure and hospitality (+12,500). Other services (+6,500), trade, transportation, and utilities (+5,400), and financial activities (+2,300) also experienced growth. Government declined 8,600 and information lost 1,000 jobs. Goods-producing industries increased 20,000 over the year. Manufacturing added 12,400 jobs, as a gain in durable goods (+15,900) exceeded a loss in nondurable goods (-3,500). Construction (+6,900) and mining and logging (+700) also increased from August 2010.

EDITOR’S NOTE: All data cited are produced in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Labor. Data sources include Current Population Survey (U.S. data); Current Employment Statistics Program (nonagricultural wage and salary employment data); and Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program (Ohio unemployment rates). More complete listings of the data appear in the monthly Ohio Labor Market Review. Unemployment rates for all Ohio counties as well as cities with populations of 50,000 or more are presented in the monthly ODJFS Civilian Labor Force Estimates publication. Updated statewide historical data may be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Labor Market Information at (614) 752-9494. Ohioans can access tens of thousands of job openings, for positions ranging from file clerks to CEOs, at www.ohiomeansjobs.com.

News release dates
A calendar of 2011 release dates is available online at http://OhioLMI.com/laus/releases.htm. County, city and metropolitan area unemployment rates for August 2011 will be posted online at http://OhioLMI.com/laus/current.htm on Tuesday, September 20, 2011. September 2011 unemployment rates and nonagricultural wage and salary data for Ohio will be released by ODJFS on Friday, October 21, 2011. This information and the monthly statistical summaries it is based on are also available at http://jfs.ohio.gov/releases.