Ohio’s statewide jobless rate remains above 5%, but unemployment varies widely throughout the 88 counties. According to the monthly map published by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, more than 40 counties saw jobless rates of 3.8% or less as of October. (The agency has also published the latest county-by-county labor force estimates.) Meanwhile, private-sector employment in the state remains nearly 200,000 jobs below pre-pandemic levels. Ohio Means Jobs reports that there are currently more than 277,000 posted job openings statewide, with roughly 34,000 of those openings tied directly to manufacturing. 12/1/2021