Unemployment Rates Drop Sharply in Lake, Geauga Counties

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Unemployment rates in the region saw a notable decrease in August, with Lake and Geauga counties experiencing significant declines. Lake County‘s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5% from 4.7% in July, while Geauga County‘s rate fell to 3.2% from 4.4% during the same period.

Lake County’s labor force consisted of approximately 129,000 individuals, with around 4,500 residents unemployed. Geauga County’s labor force was approximately 50,800, with 1,600 people unemployed.

Cuyahoga County reported an unemployment rate of 4.0%, improving from 5.4% in July. This figure is close to its rate of 3.9% recorded in August 2024. Cuyahoga County’s labor force numbers included about 616,100 employed individuals and 25,700 unemployed.

The city of Mentor also reported a decrease in its unemployment rate, falling to 3.3% from July’s rate of 4.5%, matching its rate from a year earlier. Mentor’s civilian labor force have shrunk slightly by approximately 500, totaling 26,400.

Statewide, the unemployment rate decreased to 5.1%, down from 5.5% in July but slightly higher than the 4.3% reported in August 2024. Among Ohio cities with over 50,000 residents, Lakewood had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.1%, followed by Mentor at 3.3%, Parma at 3.7%, and Cleveland Heights at 4.0%.