Columbus, OH – Andrew J. Kidd, Ph.D., an economist with The Buckeye Institute’s Economic Research Center, commented on newly released employment data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

“An unchanged unemployment rate and modest job growth mark the end of the summer for Ohio. Although the unemployment rate remained the same in August at 4.6 percent—and still lags behind the nation at 3.9 percent—Ohio did add 9,400 private sector jobs.

“A majority of the August job growth came from Ohioans hired in the health care and social assistance industry (6,500). Yet, the supposed beneficiaries of the trade wars—the manufacturing industry—lost 1,800 jobs.

“And while compensation for Ohioans—and the country as a whole—has increased, it is primarily due to increases in non-wage benefits. And as employers pay more in employee benefits, particularly health care, wages remain flat.

“The economy overall continues to benefit from state and federal tax cuts, and the cuts are helping to offset the economic harm caused by the tariffs. However, following the recent escalation of tariffs between the United States and China, it is unclear where Ohio’s labor market will settle at the end of the year.”

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