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. 

“Ohio’s November jobs report continued to tell two different stories. The monthly household survey was weak, with unemployment remaining at 4.2 percent, and the labor force participation rate fell from 61.5. percent to 61.3 percent. This means that the only reason Ohio’s unemployment rate remained steady was that more Ohioans stopped looking for work, a concerning sign as we close out 2022. Once again, Ohio’s jobs report was weaker than the national average, with unemployment at 3.7 percent and a labor force participation rate of 62.1 percent. 

“As with October’s report, the payroll survey showed positive signs, with Ohio adding 4,400 private-sector jobs. While manufacturing saw a sharp decline of 5,800 jobs due in part to some businesses having excess inventory, the service sector added 5,300 jobs, mainly in health care and arts, entertainment, and recreation. With these jobs gains, Ohio remains almost 70,000 private-sector jobs below the February 2020 peak.

“While the November jobs report is mixed, the outgoing General Assembly passed policies to improve Ohio’s job market in 2023. If Governor Mike DeWine signs into law occupational licensing recognition, Ohio can attract more workers and families to the Buckeye state, as happened in Arizona after it adopted similar reforms. While these reforms won’t address all of Ohio’s challenges, they are an integral component to modernizing Ohio’s outdated economic system.”

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