Jobless rates drop across region, Ohio

Unemployment rates for area counties, Nov. 2010 and Nov. 2009

Unemployment rates for area cities, Nov. 2010 and Nov. 2009

COLUMBUS — Unemployment rates in Dayton and Montgomery County in November dropped by nearly half a percentage point in November to their lowest levels since December 2008, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Tuesday.

The dips reflect both seasonal hiring and a slowly improving economy, said Ben Johnson, ODJFS spokesman.

The Montgomery County rate dropped from 10.9 percent in October to 10.5 percent, while the Dayton rate dropped from 12.2 to 11.8 percent.

Both rates were down from November 2009 when the county rate was 11.6 percent and the Dayton rate was 12.9 percent.

Statewide, rates decreased in 61 of 88 counties in November.

The rates dropped in all Dayton-area counties except Darke and Preble where they went up slightly, from 9.5 percent to 9.6 percent in Darke and from 9.7 percent to 9.8 percent in Preble.

Across the state, rates ranged from a low of 6.7 percent in Delaware County north of Columbus and Holmes County, southwest of Canton, to a high of 15.4 percent in Clinton County, still struggling with the loss of DHL-related jobs.

Eleven counties had rates at or below 8 percent, while six counties had rates at or above 13 percent. There were no Dayton-area counties in either group.

In the Dayton area, Warren County’s 8.4 percent rate was the lowest, while Champaign County tied Montgomery County for the highest rate at 10.5 percent.

Among area cities, Mason’s 7.6 percent rate was the lowest, while Trotwood’s 11.6 percent rate was the highest.

The unemployment rates for cities and counties are not seasonally adjusted. The not-seasonally adjusted rate for the state in November was 9.3 percent, down from 9.5 percent in October and a percentage point lower than the 10.3 percent unadjusted rate in November 2009.

The state seasonally adjusted rate for November, released last week, was 9.8 percent.