Ohio's unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent last month, its lowest since September 2001 and the fourth consecutive monthly decrease.
The state's Department of Job and Family Services said Friday that Ohio had 278,000 unemployed workers in December. That's down 9,000 compared with November, which had an unemployment rate of 5 percent.
The number of unemployed workers has dropped by 133,000 in the past year, and the jobless rate has fallen from 7.1 percent in December 2013.
Ohio's unemployment rate has remained below the nation's, which was 5.6 percent in December.
The state's nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 5,100 over the month, according to the latest business survey by the U.S. Department of Labor and the state.
Employment in goods-producing industries increased to 880,500, thanks to the 2,900 jobs gained in manufacturing and construction.
The leisure and hospitality industries saw an employment boost of 7,100, while jobs in professional and business services were up 3,800. The gains outweighed the losses of 6,200 jobs in the trade, transportation, and utilities industries, according to Friday's report.
Overall, government employment dropped by 1,200 jobs, with losses of 1,500 in state and local government positions exceeding the 300 gained in the federal government.
