Special Report

How Ohio's Job Market Compared to the US Over the Last 47 Years

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Samuel Stebbins
Published:
In an era of economic uncertainty, the U.S. job market remains resilient. After falling to 3.7% in November 2023, the national unemployment rate has been below 4% for 22 consecutive months, the longest streak in over 50 years.

Of course, if history is any guide, much of the economy is subject to boom and bust cycles — and the job market is no exception. Since the mid-1970s, the average annual unemployment rate in the U.S. has fluctuated between 3.6% and nearly 10%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These same cyclical patterns are also evident in Ohio, where the job market is supported largely by the manufacturing and retail trade industries. The annual unemployment rate in the state was 4.0% in 2022, a multi-decade low. However, conditions for job seekers have not always been so favorable.

According to historical BLS data going back to 1976, the annual jobless rate has been as high as 12.7% in Ohio. More than once, unemployment in the state has either matched or come close to that peak.

This is how Ohio’s job market has changed in each of the last 47 years.

1976: 7.8% unemployment

Source: StanRohrer / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 7.8% (7.7% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 61.5% (61.6% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 369,119

1977: 6.5% unemployment

Source: bryanakers / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 6.5% (7.1% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 61.8% (62.3% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 312,688

1978: 5.5% unemployment

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.5% (6.1% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 62.8% (63.2% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 273,327

1979: 5.8% unemployment

Source: Oralleff / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.8% (5.8% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.6% (63.7% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 297,430

1980: 8.4% unemployment

Source: espiegle / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 8.4% (7.1% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.4% (63.8% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 421,192

1981: 9.4% unemployment

Source: Ed Jackson / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 9.4% (7.6% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.7% (63.9% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 490,849

1982: 12.7% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 12.7% (9.7% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.7% (64.0% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 643,816

1983: 12.4% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 12.4% (9.6% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.6% (64.0% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 631,030

1984: 9.5% unemployment

Source: StanRohrer / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 9.5% (7.5% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.5% (64.4% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 483,162

1985: 8.9% unemployment

Source: bryanakers / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 8.9% (7.2% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.7% (64.8% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 459,413

1986: 8.3% unemployment

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 8.3% (7.0% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 64.4% (65.3% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 433,271

1987: 7.1% unemployment

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  • Avg. unemployment rate: 7.1% (6.2% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 64.5% (65.6% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 373,425

1988: 6.0% unemployment

Source: espiegle / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 6.0% (5.5% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 64.7% (65.9% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 320,814

1989: 5.5% unemployment

Source: Ed Jackson / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.5% (5.3% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 65.5% (66.5% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 301,821

1990: 5.6% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.6% (5.6% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 65.7% (66.5% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 312,096

1991: 6.5% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 6.5% (6.8% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 65.3% (66.2% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 352,932

1992: 7.4% unemployment

Source: StanRohrer / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 7.4% (7.5% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 65.9% (66.4% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 407,362

1993: 6.6% unemployment

Source: bryanakers / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 6.6% (6.9% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 65.6% (66.3% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 367,204

1994: 5.6% unemployment

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.6% (6.1% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 66.0% (66.6% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 315,490

1995: 4.8% unemployment

Source: Oralleff / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.8% (5.6% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 66.1% (66.6% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 273,075

1996: 5.0% unemployment

Source: espiegle / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.0% (5.4% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 66.4% (66.8% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 283,204

1997: 4.6% unemployment

Source: Ed Jackson / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.6% (4.9% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 66.9% (67.1% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 265,367

1998: 4.3% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.3% (4.5% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 66.6% (67.1% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 248,493

1999: 4.3% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.3% (4.2% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 67.0% (67.1% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 248,882

2000: 4.0% unemployment

Source: StanRohrer / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.0% (4.0% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 67.0% (67.1% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 237,102

2001: 4.3% unemployment

Source: bryanakers / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.3% (4.7% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 67.2% (66.8% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 254,737

2002: 5.7% unemployment

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.7% (5.8% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 66.9% (66.6% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 337,401

2003: 6.2% unemployment

Source: Oralleff / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 6.2% (6.0% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 67.0% (66.2% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 364,037

2004: 6.3% unemployment

Source: espiegle / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 6.3% (5.5% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 66.6% (66.0% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 366,496

2005: 5.9% unemployment

Source: Ed Jackson / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.9% (5.1% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 66.7% (66.0% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 349,262

2006: 5.4% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.4% (4.6% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 67.2% (66.2% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 321,252

2007: 5.6% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.6% (4.6% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 67.6% (66.0% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 337,945

2008: 6.4% unemployment

Source: StanRohrer / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 6.4% (5.8% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 67.2% (66.0% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 393,367

2009: 10.3% unemployment

Source: bryanakers / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 10.3% (9.3% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 65.9% (65.4% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 600,044

2010: 10.3% unemployment

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 10.3% (9.6% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 65.5% (64.7% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 604,169

2011: 8.8% unemployment

Source: Oralleff / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 8.8% (8.9% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 64.2% (64.1% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 509,752

2012: 7.4% unemployment

Source: espiegle / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 7.4% (8.1% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.3% (63.7% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 422,083

2013: 7.5% unemployment

Source: Ed Jackson / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 7.5% (7.4% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.0% (63.2% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 425,318

2014: 5.8% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.8% (6.2% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 62.8% (62.9% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 331,389

2015: 4.9% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.9% (5.3% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 62.6% (62.7% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 282,926

2016: 5.0% unemployment

Source: StanRohrer / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.0% (4.9% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 62.8% (62.8% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 290,383

2017: 5.0% unemployment

Source: bryanakers / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.0% (4.4% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.0% (62.9% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 289,496

2018: 4.5% unemployment

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.5% (3.9% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 62.8% (62.9% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 261,865

2019: 4.1% unemployment

Source: Oralleff / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.1% (3.7% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 63.2% (63.1% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 244,879

2020: 8.1% unemployment

Source: espiegle / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 8.1% (8.1% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 61.6% (61.7% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 473,768

2021: 5.1% unemployment

Source: Ed Jackson / iStock via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 5.1% (5.3% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 61.4% (61.7% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 293,954

2022: 4.0% unemployment

Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Avg. unemployment rate: 4.0% (3.6% nationwide)
  • Labor force participation rate: 61.5% (62.2% nationwide)
  • Unemployed population in Ohio: 230,950

Source: 24/7 Wall St.

YearOhio unemployment rateU.S. unemployment rateUnemployed population in Ohio
19767.87.7369,119
19776.57.1312,688
19785.56.1273,327
19795.85.8297,430
19808.47.1421,192
19819.47.6490,849
198212.79.7643,816
198312.49.6631,030
19849.57.5483,162
19858.97.2459,413
19868.37.0433,271
19877.16.2373,425
19886.05.5320,814
19895.55.3301,821
19905.65.6312,096
19916.56.8352,932
19927.47.5407,362
19936.66.9367,204
19945.66.1315,490
19954.85.6273,075
19965.05.4283,204
19974.64.9265,367
19984.34.5248,493
19994.34.2248,882
20004.04.0237,102
20014.34.7254,737
20025.75.8337,401
20036.26.0364,037
20046.35.5366,496
20055.95.1349,262
20065.44.6321,252
20075.64.6337,945
20086.45.8393,367
200910.39.3600,044
201010.39.6604,169
20118.88.9509,752
20127.48.1422,083
20137.57.4425,318
20145.86.2331,389
20154.95.3282,926
20165.04.9290,383
20175.04.4289,496
20184.53.9261,865
20194.13.7244,879
20208.18.1473,768
20215.15.3293,954
20224.03.6230,950

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Read more: Special Report, BLS, how Ohio’s job market compares to the US, the unemployment rate in Ohio every year, unemployment in Ohio the year you were born, Labor

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