Weekly Jobless Claims In Ohio Increase, Decline Nationally

The Labor Department says the number of Ohioans filing first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits rose last week by more than 7 thousand, due to layoffs in the manufacturing, retail, transportation, health care services and food service sectors. Ohio had the fourth-largest increase of the 50 states. Nationally, claims fell by 15 thousand to a seasonally adjusted 330 thousand. A department spokesperson says there is no indication the cold weather that hit much of the nation this week caused the decline.