Ohio's unemployment rate runs higher than U.S. rate, but Cleveland-Akron area counties do better than the state

Published: Thursday, October 08, 2009, 11:04 AM     Updated: Thursday, October 08, 2009, 11:45 AM

Rich Exner, The Plain Dealer
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September unemployment rates for each state will be released Friday, Oct. 16.

So far, Ohio's unemployment rate has been worse than the U.S. rate each month during the recession, which began in December 2007.

For August, Ohio's seasonally adjusted rate was 10.8. The U.S. rate was 9.7 percent.

However, the seven counties in the Cleveland and Akron metro areas have not been hit as hard as Ohio as a whole. The August rates for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties were all lower than the Ohio rate.

The chart below is based on the "not seasonally adjusted" rates, because the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not seasonally adjust rates at the county level. The August not seasonally adjusted rates were 10.5 percent for Ohio and 9.6 percent for the United States.

Mouse over the chart below to display monthly unemployment numbers.

See larger version of the statewide map.Ohio Department of Job and Family ServicesAugust 2009 unemployment rates for each county in Ohio. See a larger version.