Ohio Initial Unemployment Claims Decline; More Than 45,000 Total Claims Filed Last Week

Ohioans filed fewer initial and continued unemployment claims during the week of August 2 through August 8, according to new data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

ODJFS reported 4,166 initial unemployment claims were filed during the week, a decrease of 251 from the previous week.

Approximately 835 initial claims were flagged for additional identity verification as the state works to identify and prevent fraudulent unemployment claims.

Ohioans also filed 41,557 continued unemployment claims, which was 710 fewer than the previous week.

Combined, the state recorded 45,723 unemployment claims during the August 2 through August 8 reporting period.

Ohio’s unemployment rate stood at 3.6% in June, compared with the national unemployment rate of 4.2%.

The state’s labor force participation rate was 61.6% in June, slightly above the national rate of 61.5%.

ODJFS works with local workforce development boards and staff at 88 OhioMeansJobs centers across the state to provide employment and training services. Those services include assistance with job searches, resumes, career assessments and interview preparation.

Employers can also work with OhioMeansJobs centers to recruit workers, screen resumes and learn about available tax credits and training programs.

ODJFS encourages people filing unemployment claims to do so online at unemployment.ohio.gov.

Anyone who believes their identity has been used to file a fraudulent unemployment claim is urged to report it through the state unemployment website or by calling 833-658-0394.