Decrease In Unemployment Rate May Not Be Good Sign

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Usually, a drop in the state unemployment rate would be seen as a good sign, but that may not be the case this month.

Statewide unemployment figures released Friday show Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped to 10.1 percent in September—an improvement over August’s 10.8 percent rate.

But the reason for the drop isn’t that more jobs are opening up. It’s that more Ohioans are dropping out of the labor force.

The state’s economic woes have political consequences, as proponents of Issue 3, which would bring four casinos to Ohio, are capitalizing on the need for jobs to pitch the gambling expansion that voters have rejected four times.

“People are desperate for jobs and it’s a possibility that it will attract a positive vote because of that, but I think it’s just wrong on principle,“ said Don Hottel, a Westerville resident.

Ohio voters will head to the polls on Nov. 3 to decide the fate of Issue 3.

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