The number of new and continued unemployment claims in Ohio dropped last month as the state’s unemployment rate increased, and Ohio officials have flagged hundreds of claims to confirm their authenticity.
“In March, Ohio’s unemployment rate continued to climb to 4.8 percent, up from 4.7 percent,” Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, said in a statement.
“At the same time, the national unemployment rate increased from 4.1 to 4.2 percent,” Hederman added. “However, the labor force participation rate increased again to 62.6 percent, the highest rate in six months, outpacing the national average of 62.5 percent.”
The latest numbers from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show that Ohioans filed 5,707 initial unemployment claims for the week ending April 12. That total is 478 fewer than the previous week, down from 6,641 for the week ending Feb. 22.
The Buckeye State’s eight-week average of initial claims stands at 6,031, state numbers show.
However, roughly 693 have been flagged for “more stringent identity verification” to confirm they are not fraudulent.
Meanwhile, Ohioans filed 56,632 continued unemployment claims for the week ending April 12. That total is 1,983 fewer than the previous week, down from 68,224 for the week ending Feb. 22.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the eight-week average of continued unemployment claims is 63,064.
“The payroll survey provided better news, with the private sector adding 7,300 new jobs,” Hederman said. “In addition, the strong job growth in February was revised upwards by 3,000 jobs, meaning that Ohio added 35,000 private-sector jobs in February and March.”
Hederman also noted that the March jobs report is the last to be issued before the new tariffs kick in and the potential expiration of the Trump tax cuts. The tariffs and the elimination of tax cuts could bring about uncertainty for businesses.
“During periods of uncertainty, businesses are less likely to expand, invest, or take on more risk,” Hederman said. “Despite the job growth Ohio has experienced over the past two months, policymakers need to adopt pro-growth policies that can help Ohio weather future uncertainty. Lawmakers can start doing that by guaranteeing reliable, affordable energy and keeping taxes low.”
Lt. Governor Jim Tressel has embarked on a series of “community conversations” intended to inform the development of Ohio’s Workforce Playbook. The playbook is supposed to help develop a plan to retain existing talent, recruit new talent to Ohio and increase the Buckeye State’s existing workforce’s productivity.
“We need to make sure we’re working together as a business and education community – aligning all of our efforts to not only prepare Ohioans for these amazing jobs, but to inspire them to stay and build their futures right here in Ohio,” Tressel, a Republican, said in a release.
Despite leaders’ efforts, the state’s workforce seemingly took a blow this week when Pixelle Specialty Solutions said it plans to close the company’s Chillicothe paper mill. Overall, 826 Ohioans are expected to be impacted by the closure.
“I am extremely disappointed in the decision made by Pixelle,” Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement after news of the closure broke. “The paper mill in Chillicothe has been in operation more than 100 years, providing good jobs for the community for generations.”
However, on Friday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said the planned closure has been paused.
“I am pleased that the closure of the Chillicothe paper mill has been paused,” WSYX-TV quoted Moreno as saying in a statement. “This facility is vital to our community, and I will continue to fight for the workers and their families.”
