Ohio’s unemployment rate for October was 5.3%, its lowest level since February 2008. That’s down more than a full percentage point from the 7.5% posted a year ago.
The unemployment rate had held steady at 5.7% in July and August, then dropped to 5.6% for September.
The Ohio unemployment rate was slightly better than the national rate, which was 5.9% for September.
Ohio was one of 34 states where jobless rates fell last month, which economists say is a sign that steady hiring this year has been broadly dispersed through most of the country.