Ohio Jobless Rate Hits Record-Low 3.3% as D.C. Payrolls Fall 3.6%

Ohio's unemployment rate fell to 3.3% in August, the lowest in the state's series history, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The seasonally adjusted rate has declined in every month of 2026, from 4.3% in January. Separately, the District of Columbia's nonfarm payroll employment stood at 719,900 in August, down 27,000 — about 3.6% — from 746,900 a year earlier, the BLS payroll series shows.

Ohio's rate kept falling in 2026

The evidence is the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics statewide series for Ohio, series ID LASST390000000000003, seasonally adjusted. Ohio's unemployment rate stepped down through 2026: 4.3% in January, 4.2% in February, 4.1% in March, 3.9% in April, 3.7% in May, 3.6% in June, 3.4% in July, and 3.3% in August. The August figure is preliminary.

The full BLS history for the Ohio statewide series, which begins in January 1976, contains no monthly unemployment rate below 3.3%. August 2026 is the lowest observation in the displayed series — a genuine record low.

D.C. payrolls moved lower

The evidence is the BLS statewide payroll series for the District, series ID SMS11000000000000001, seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm employment measured in thousands. The District of Columbia's payroll employment was 719,900 in August 2026, compared with 746,900 in August 2025. The year-over-year decline of 27,000 jobs is about 3.6%. The August 2026 figure is preliminary.

What the two series show

These are two different state-level BLS measures: Ohio's unemployment rate and the District's payroll job count. Together they show Ohio reaching a historical low in its statewide unemployment rate while the District had fewer nonfarm payroll jobs than a year earlier. They are not proof of a nationwide labor-market trend — each series describes only its own jurisdiction.