Good things are afoot in Ohio | News, Sports, Jobs – Marietta Times

Jobless claims heading into the end of 2024 included some encouraging numbers for Ohio. In fact, according to WalletHub’s look at “States Where Unemployment Claims Are Increasing the Most,” the Buckeye State was a comforting 51st overall in the country.

Ohio was 23rd for unemployment claims increases compared with the previous week (Nov. 25 vs. Nov. 18), 21st for unemployment claims increases compared with the same week a year earlier, 21st for unemployment claims per 100,000 people in the labor force and 51st for cumulative unemployment claims in 2024 compared with the same period the previous year.

According to WalletHub, on Nov. 25 there were approximately 7 million Americans unemployed.

While we know there can sometimes be unsettling reasons for decreases in unemployment claims — able workers simply giving up and dropping out of the labor force, for example — Ohio’s performance is still impressive.

It indicates employers and economic development officials may be more responsive to demands of both the labor force and consumers.

“I believe that there will be a shift in unemployment,” said Dylan Polkinghorne, assistant teaching professor at the University of Wisconsin — Green Bay. “After the pandemic, there has been a shift in the demands consumers are searching for. In turn, this is providing more positions for organizations. Initially, post-pandemic organizations were consolidating positions they felt were no longer needed, leading to increased unemployment. With the supply/demand shift for consumers reaching normal, organizations are now left with providing more employee positions. This will allow organizations to meet the needs of potential new employees and be competitive in their selection process.”

It took us a while to get here, but it seems as though Ohio is getting that mix right. The challenge now is to not let off the gas. We’ve still got to provide education that trains our workforce for the future, build communities where large employers want to work and focus on getting more of those employers to locate within commuting distance of ALL Ohioans, as Gov. Mike DeWine told us was his priority.

Good things are afoot in Ohio. Imagine the possibilities if all that potential becomes reality.

Source: Good things are afoot in Ohio | News, Sports, Jobs – Marietta Times