Northwest Ohio counties got a jolt from the jobless numbers for December, where nearly every county in the region surged higher in unemployment last month.  Henry County’s unemployment climbed by over 1%, rising from 6.3 to 7.4% in December.   Fulton County’s unemployment rose from 7.1 to 7.6%.       Those two counties were above the state average in jobless figures.

            Defiance County nudged slightly higher at 6.6%, for the lowest reading in the four-county area.   Williams County’s unemployment actually fell in December to 6.8%.

Putnam County was again lowest in the region, with their jobless rate of 5.4%.  But it was also an increase from the 5% rate of November.  And Wood County hit 6.1% for December.

Around the Buckeye State, Pike County had the highest unemployment in December, at 12.3%.    Mercer County checked-in with the lowest jobless rate in the state last month, at 3.9%.   Holmes County was next lowest at 4.2%.    The average unemployment in Ohio was 6.8% for December.