Ohio unemployment rate drops again, below US rate

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's unemployment rate has inched downward again.

The state Department of Job and Family Services said Friday that seasonally adjusted joblessness in Ohio was 6.9 percent in October, down from the revised figure of 7.1 percent in September. That's the lowest rate since August 2008, when it was 6.8 percent.

Ohio's unemployment rate has remained below the national rate, which ticked up to 7.9 percent in October from 7.8 percent in September.

The number of unemployed Ohio workers dropped by 10,000 to 396,000 last month. Meanwhile, the state's non-farm payrolls increased by 13,900.

Ohio gained about 7,300 jobs in professional and business services and more than 5,000 in government. Manufacturing lost 2,200 jobs, and those in trade, transportation and utilities dropped by 3,800.