Local Unemployment Continues to Decline

Employers in Clark & Champaign counties have jobs to fill now

The unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent in Clark County in March, down from 4.6 percent in February. In Champaign County, the unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in March, down from 3.8 percent in February. BILL LACKEY / SPRINGFIELD NEWS-SUN STAFF

By Riley Newton, Springfield News-Sun Staff Writer
DIGGING DEEPER
Unemployment rates have fallen for the third straight month in Clark and Champaign counties, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Service.

The unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent in Clark County in March, down from 4.6 percent in February.

Amy Donahoe, director of Workforce Development with the Chamber of Greater Springfield, said the falling unemployment rate is an example of Clark County continuing to see businesses hire and grow.

“We are seeing individuals becoming employed right away when businesses are hiring,”

Donahoe said. “There is no reason for people not be working right now.”

Donahoe said the Chamber is focusing to tap into the workforce within Clark County to keep residents working close to home.

“We have a lot of people living here but working outside of the area,” Donahoe said. “We are working on keeping people here and helping people find work closer to home.”

Bill LaFayette, an economist and owner of Regionomics, a Columbus-based economics and workforce consulting firm, said the unemployment rate for Clark County is good.

LaFayette said that Ohio DJFS does not seasonally adjust, or account for seasonal patterns that include summer hiring, major holiday hiring and school schedules.

State and national figures are adjusted for those factors.

Statewide, Ohio’s unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.4 percent, down 0.2 percent from February, according to the OJFS. The nationwide unemployment rate remained steady at 3.8 percent, continuing its downward trend.

“If we are looking at seasonally adjusted numbers, unemployment still went down from 4.2 in February, to 4 in March,” LaFayette said about Clark County’s unemployment numbers.

In Champaign County, the unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in March, down from 3.8 percent in February.

Marcia Bailey, director of the Champaign Economic Partnership, said the county’s unemployment numbers are, “great news.”

“These numbers are great, but there is a flip side to this story,” Bailey said. “The other side is that there are still jobs that need to be filled and companies that are hiring right now.”

Companies across Champaign County are looking to fill positions right now, Bailey said.

“We want people to understand that there are jobs available and we encourage them to come and see us,” Bailey said. “We want to help everyone find their career.”

Contact this reporter at 937- 328-0329 or email Riley. [email protected].

MORE DETAILS 
CLARK COUNTY
March: 4.1 percent
February: 4.6 percent
January: 5.4 percent 

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
March: 3.4 percent
February: 3.8 percent
January: 4.5 percent

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