Ohio Lost Over 260,000 Jobs Since 2000

A new report says Ohio lost 262,383 jobs since 2000, or about 5% of its work force.

The majority of those were manufacturing jobs, with 218,453 factory positions disappearing since 2001, or 23% of the state’s total seven years ago.

Meanwhile the average Ohio worker is making 1% less than in 2000 even without considering inflation.

Cleveland economist George Zeller compiled the report for Cuyahoga County government by analyzing state job data.

Ohio’s unemployment rate of 7.8% is the highest in the state in more than 20 years.