Unemployment rates stayed consistent in Allen and Auglaize counties in December compared to the previous month and were better than the 2022 rates, per the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services’ statistics. The non-adjusted unemployment rate in Allen County was 3.0% in December, identical to November’s rate. This rate was 0.6 percentage points down from the 3.6% rate observed in December 2022. The count of unemployed people in Allen County remained steady at 1,400 people, despite the labor force reducing by 300 people. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 1,777 jobs within 10 miles of downtown Lima, as reported by OhioMeansJobs.com. Auglaize County’s rate also remained unchanged at 2.3%, marking it as the state’s fifth-lowest. However, Putnam County’s rate deteriorated by 0.3 percentage points, from 2.1% in November to 2.4% last month, though it was still the state’s eighth-lowest rate. Statewide, the unemployment rate was 3.7%, equal to the nationwide rate of 3.7%.