Ohio Unemployment Highest Since 1989

Ohio says steep losses in the manufacturing sector pushed the state’s unemployment rate to 7.8% last month, the highest jobless rate in more than 20 years.

The figures released Friday show that the number of unemployed workers in December was 465,000, up from 435,000 in November. The number of unemployed has increased by 118,000 in the past 12 months.

December’s 7.8% joblessness in Ohio was up from 5.8% a year ago, and tops the national rate of 7.2%. The state’s unemployment rate was 7.3% in November.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says manufacturing continues to be the hardest-hit industry.