COLUMBUS — Allen County’s unemployment rate increased in March, but the labor force grew to its largest levels in a year and a half, according to data released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services.
Allen County’s unemployment rate in March was 4.5%, up from 4.3% in February. Still, there were 46,897 people in the labor force, the largest since an estimated 47,000 in August 2022.
There were 2,106 people without jobs in March, according to the statistics. There were 2,081 jobs listed within 10 miles of Lima on OhioMeansJobs.com as of Tuesday morning.
Auglaize County also saw its unemployment rate increase by 0.2 percentage points, to 3.5% in March. It, too, saw its total labor force grow, up to 24,732, its largest since August 2023.
Putnam County’s unemployment rate declined to 3.5%, down 0.1 percentage point. It saw its total labor force increase as well, to 18,892, its largest total since November.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 3.9% in March, while the national unemployment rate was 4.5%.
The largest sector growth in March was in arts, entertainment and recreation, which saw a 3.1% increase in employment. Transportation, warehousing and utilities ranked second, at 1.3% growth, while mining and logging and educational services each had 1.1% growth in March. The information sector saw the biggest loss, with a 1.1% decrease in employment.
