Ohio Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.4%; Mercer and Auglaize Remain Among State’s Lowest

Ohio’s unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent in July, while the latest available county figures continue to show Mercer and Auglaize counties with some of the lowest unemployment rates in the state.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reports the statewide unemployment rate declined from 3.6 percent in June to 3.4 percent in July. The number of unemployed Ohio workers fell from 209,000 in June to 200,000 in July.

Compared with one year ago, the improvement was more significant. Ohio had approximately 266,000 unemployed workers in July 2025 and an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent.

Ohio also remained below the national unemployment rate. The U.S. rate was 4.1 percent in July, down from 4.2 percent in June.

Employers added approximately 5,100 nonagricultural wage and salary jobs during July, bringing statewide employment to about 5.69 million.

Goods-producing industries added 7,900 jobs during the month, including gains of 4,900 in manufacturing and 3,000 in construction. Private educational and health services, leisure and hospitality and financial activities also posted gains, while government employment declined by 4,500 jobs.

Locally, July county unemployment figures have not yet been released. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is scheduled to publish July rates for Ohio’s counties, cities and metropolitan areas on Tuesday, August 25.

The most recent county figures, from June, showed Mercer County with a 2.7 percent unemployment rate and Auglaize County at 2.9 percent. Mercer had the second-lowest rate among Ohio’s 88 counties, while Auglaize had the third-lowest. Only Holmes County, at 2.6 percent, was lower.

The county figures are not seasonally adjusted, while the statewide July rate of 3.4 percent is seasonally adjusted.

Ohio’s labor force participation rate was 61.4 percent in July, matching the national rate.

ODJFS says Ohioans looking for employment can search available positions and access workforce resources through OhioMeansJobs.