11/21/17 – 11:33 A.M.

Unemployment was relatively flat in the area in October. Numbers from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show Hancock County’s unemployment rate stood at 3.3 percent last month. It was also 3.3 percent in September. Overall, unemployment is slightly down from the same time a year ago.

Putnam County’s unemployment rate dropped from 3.2 percent in September to 3 percent in October. That gives Putnam County the second lowest jobless rate in Ohio.

Elsewhere in the area, Wyandot (3.2) and Wood (3.9) counties were below 4 percent unemployment. Henry (4.0), Seneca (4.2), Hardin, (4.4), and Allen (4.5) counties were all below 5 percent unemployment.

Henry County saw a slight uptick in jobless claims from September (3.9) to October (4.0). It’s the only increase reported in the region.