Columbus, OH – Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center at The Buckeye Institute and vice president of policy, commented on newly released employment data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. 

“May’s jobs report saw Ohio’s unemployment rate fall sharply from 17.6 to 13.7 percent, a sign that the state’s economy is beginning to recover from the mandated shutdowns due to the coronavirus. And despite the fact that Ohio has a slightly higher unemployment rate compared to the national average, the state has more people working or looking for work—a hopeful sign in these difficult times. 

“Amidst these hopeful signs, there is still much to be concerned about. While May’s report shows strong improvement, Ohio still has 757,600 fewer jobs compared to the previous year and the unemployment rate is still one of the highest rates ever recorded. The leisure and hospitality industry, which includes restaurants, museums, and recreation areas, added 36,600 jobs in May, but job losses remain steep for the industry, which is still in the process of reopening. 

“To ensure that Ohio’s unemployment rate continues to drop and that the economy continues to recover, policymakers must act swiftly to enact policies that protect businesses and workers from frivolous pandemic-related lawsuits, permanently enact telehealth reforms, and remove unnecessary regulations that prohibit people from working in their chosen careers and prohibit medical professional from serving patients.”

# # #