Ohio Labor Force Participation Continues to Lag

Ohio has recorded the most filled jobs in state history with more than 5.6 million, according to Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. Meanwhile, Ohio’s 3.3% unemployment rate for July was below the U.S. average of 3.5%. (See this updated map for jobless rates by county.)

Despite this news, Ohio’s labor force participation dipped to 62.1% in July, compared to 62.6% nationwide.

Earlier this year, research from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio showed a 9% drop in Ohio’s labor force participation rate from 2007 to 2022. Among other factors, an increase in substance abuse was tied to the declining workforce participation, as Ohio was ranked among the worst five states for drug overdose deaths. 8/21/2023