Area jobless rate reaches 3-year low

Overall trend expected to continue into 2012.

Chris Stewart/Staff photo The Caterpillar distribution center in Clayton is one of the local businesses that hired hundreds of workers.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By William Hershey, Staff writer Updated 9:49 AM Wednesday, December 21, 2011

COLUMBUS – The jobless rates in Dayton area counties and major cities fell sharply in November, dropping to levels not seen since the end of 2008, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Tuesday.

Rates dropped in 85 of 88 Ohio counties. The numbers tracked last week’s report of the biggest monthly statewide percentage drop in unemployment since 1983.

The state rate for November was the lowest since December 2008, and a percentage point lower than the national rate.

“We expect the overall trend to continue,” said Ben Johnson, ODJFS spokesman.

Johnson added, however, that the rates aren’t expected to drop so sharply each month, and that in some months there might be slight increases as local economies recover and react to national and international developments.

As was the case at the state level, while hiring picked up, the labor force in local communities shrank as some discouraged workers left and weren’t counted when jobless rates were calculated.

One of the Dayton region’s bright spots has been the new Caterpillar Logistics parts distribution center in Clayton. Company officials expect to employ at least 500 people at the center when it becomes fully operational by mid-2012, depending upon business conditions.

Caterpillar expects to begin another wave of hiring for the facility in the second quarter of 2012, company spokeswoman Bridget Young said.

The jobs available are primarily for warehouse workers who handle selection, packing and unloading of parts.

Its 1.6-million-square-foot center, off Hoke Road south of Interstate 70, is to operate around the clock, seven days a week when fully operational, according to Caterpillar officials.

For the city of Dayton, the November unemployment rate was 9.6 percent, the lowest since a 9 percent rate in November 2008. The new monthly rate also was down from 10.7 percent in October and from 11.7 percent in November 2010.

In Montgomery County, the November rate was 8.6 percent, lowest since the same rate in December 2008.

The county rate for November also was down from 9.6 percent in October and from 10.3 percent in November 2010.

The news was the same for the Dayton metro area, which includes Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties.

The metro area rate for November was 8.3 percent, lowest since the same rate in December 2008.

The metro area rate also was down from 9.3 percent in October and from 9.9 percent in November 2010.

Among Dayton area counties, Warren County’s 7 percent November rate was the lowest, while Preble County’s 9.3 percent rate was the highest.

Among area cities, Beavercreek’s 6.7 percent rate was the lowest and Trotwood’s 9.9 percent rate was the highest.

Across the state, Mercer County, at 4.9 percent, had the lowest county rate. Four other counties had rates below 6 percent: Holmes, 5.2 percent; Delaware and Geauga, 5.5 percent and Medina, 5.8 percent.

The highest county rate was 13.9 percent in Pike County in southern Ohio. Other counties with rates at or above 11 percent were: Ottawa, 11.9 percent; Scioto, 11.5 percent; Meigs, 11.3 percent and Clinton, 11 percent.

Unemployment rates for cities and counties are not seasonally adjusted.

The state seasonally adjusted rate for November was 8.5 percent, down from 9 percent in October and 9.6 percent in November 2010.

The national adjusted rate for November was 8.6 percent, down from 9 percent in October and 9.8 percent in November 2010.

Staff writer John Nolan  contributed to this report. Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@ DaytonDailyNews.com.

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