Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)

Local Area Unemployment Statistics provide estimated labor force, employment, unemployment and unemployment rates for the United States, Ohio, metropolitan areas, former economic development regions, counties and selected cities.

• The Unemployment rate press release contains the most recent available month's labor force data for Ohio, each county, and some major cities. Estimated labor force, employment, unemployment and unemployment rates are provided. Press releases are issued monthly. See the Press Release Calendar for details.
  • Ohio & U.S. Employment Situation, in pdf.
  • Unemployment rate map, in pdf.
• Data Download
  • OhioLMI Data Search Tool - View and download both current and historical labor force data for the United States, Ohio, metropolitan areas, workforce investment areas, JobsOhio regions, counties and selected Ohio cities.
  • Unemployment Rate Map Archive - View and download both current and historical monthly and annual average unemployment rate maps.
    • Rate maps for prior months and years are included as originally published and have not been revised.
• Annual Reports, in pdf.
  • 2022 Ranking Report: Unemployment Rates by County from Highest to Lowest
  • 2021 Ranking Report: Unemployment Rates by County from Highest to Lowest
  • 2022 Civilian Labor Force Estimates
  • 2021 Civilian Labor Force Estimates
• Labor Surplus Areas are designated by the U.S. Department of Labor for states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Employers in these areas may be given preference in bidding on federal procurement contracts.
  • Ohio Labor Surplus Areas are the most recent designations.

Data Search & Download

• Using our Data Search Tool, customers can view and download current and historical data for Ohio and twelve metropolitan areas.

Data Source

Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) is a federal-state program that gathers data on labor force, employment and unemployment at the state and sub-state levels. Unemployment Rate Methodology offers non-technical explanations of procedures used to develop local area employment and unemployment statistics at the national, state and local levels.

Level of Detail

Total labor force, employment, unemployment and unemployment rates.

Frequency

Monthly estimates are generally available near the end of month following month of reference. Annual Averages are published mid-year following the benchmark period.

Time Period Covered

Monthly and annual averages.

Geographic Areas

Civilian Labor Force Estimates are prepared for the United States, Ohio, Ohio counties and cities with populations of 25,000 or more, and Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

Labor force data for major metropolitan areas are also available in the Labor Market Review.

Uses

General indicator of economic conditions, economic research, plant location and fund allocation.

Limitations

National estimates are based on a monthly survey of approximately 60,000 households. State estimates are time-series model estimates. County estimates are based on a building block method with estimates adjusted to add to state totals. Seasonally adjusted data are available only for the state and the nation.