Mercer County leads Ohio in December unemployment; Auglaize also ranks among the lowest

Mercer and Auglaize counties continue to stand out statewide for low unemployment, according to December figures released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Mercer County tied Holmes County for the lowest jobless rate in Ohio at 2.8 percent. Auglaize County also ranked near the top statewide, posting the sixth lowest unemployment rate in December at 3.2 percent.

Putnam County reported a December unemployment rate of 3.4 percent, tying for one of the lowest rates in the state. Paulding County and Defiance County were also below the statewide average, while Allen County matched the state rate.

Across Ohio, unemployment rates increased from November in most counties, with fewer counties seeing decreases or no change.