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.

“Job growth in Ohio appears to be taking a summer break, with 3,100 fewer private sector jobs compared to last month’s revised report—the fourth straight month of sluggish or negative growth that Ohio has experienced. While the unemployment rate did fall to 4.1 percent, its lowest level since the early 2000s, it was combined with a falling labor force participation rate, which indicates that people who were searching for jobs have either stopped searching or have left the state.

“There were a few bright spots in this month’s report. Manufacturing jobs grew by 2,400—good news for a sector that has struggled to add jobs since the start of the year. The professional, scientific and technical services sector also added 1,400 jobs. These bright spots, however, were not enough to offset job losses in other areas, including a loss of 2,000 in the health care sector and a loss of 1,500 in the financial activities sector. 

“As members of the Ohio House and Senate prepare to finalize Ohio’s biennial budget, policymakers would be wise to heed these warning signs of a potential economic downturn as The Buckeye Institute has urged throughout the budget process.”

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