Ohio Jobless Claims Drop During Latest Reporting Week

Ohioans filed fewer unemployment claims during the latest reporting week, according to updated numbers from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

For the week of April 19th through April 25th, Ohioans filed 4,231 initial unemployment claims. That is 1,146 fewer than the previous week. ODJFS says about 887 of those claims have been flagged for more stringent identity verification to help prevent fraud.

The state also reported 44,913 continued unemployment claims during the week, which is 2,337 fewer than the previous week.

In total, 49,144 unemployment claims were filed in Ohio during the reporting period.

Ohio’s unemployment rate in February was 4.2 percent, compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.4 percent. Ohio’s labor force participation rate was 62.2 percent, slightly above the national rate of 62 percent.

ODJFS says job seekers can visit OhioMeansJobs.com or contact their local OhioMeansJobs Center for help finding job openings, improving resumes, taking career assessments, and preparing for interviews.

Employers can also use OhioMeansJobs Centers for help finding skilled candidates, screening resumes, and learning about workforce training programs and tax credits.

Those filing unemployment claims are encouraged to file online at unemployment.ohio.gov. Anyone who believes their identity was used to file a fraudulent unemployment claim should report it through the same website or call 833-658-0394.