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 newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

“In November, Ohio’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent, and the labor force participation rate climbed a tenth to 62.6 percent, meaning employers created enough new jobs to meet the demand of Ohioans looking for work. While the national job market weakened slightly in November, Ohio saw a stronger month than the national average, and Ohio’s job market now matches the national average after trailing for the last half of 2024.

“Ohio added 3,900 private-sector jobs in November. However, a revision to the October jobs report revealed that Ohio added 1,000 fewer private-sector jobs than initially thought. Even with this change to the October report, Ohio’s private sector continues to expand and create new jobs.

“Despite the slow, steady growth of jobs in Ohio, the state continues to lag behind its neighbors and the rest of the country, as revealed in the latest economic freedom rankings. In 2025, Ohio lawmakers need to adopt policies that will reverse these persistent trends by passing a budget that constrains overall spending, reduces the overall tax and regulatory burden on Ohioans, expands school choice, and ensures the integrity of Ohio’s public pension systems.”

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