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

“While Ohio’s unemployment rate fell from five to 4.8 percent, the September jobs report showed that Ohio’s job market took a step backward, as the private sector lost 2,000 jobs and more workers left the job market, leading to a decline in the labor force participation rate to 62.4 percent, which tied the national average.

“Ohio wasn’t the only state to have a lackluster September. The national unemployment rate climbed to 4.4 percent, and the Federal Reserve cited a softening job market as one reason for its December interest rate cut. 

“With September’s jobs report coming out three months late, October’s report canceled due to the federal government shutdown, and November’s report delayed into the new year, it is difficult to know the state of Ohio’s current job market. However, this report did confirm that Ohio’s job market was weakening in the fall. Despite the uncertainty in Ohio’s job market, lawmakers did send a strong series of property tax reforms to Governor DeWine. If signed into law, these Buckeye-championed reforms will help struggling Ohioans.” 

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