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Looking for a job? Every Sunday, we’ll report on new job opportunities in the community including companies hiring, how to apply, training programs and other economic trends that can affect your job search. Contact reporter Chelsey Levingston with suggestions at chelsey.levingston@coxinc.com. Also let us know if you land that job.
The number of people who are counted as unemployed in Butler County hasn’t changed in three months. From August through October, the most recent information available, about 7,400 county residents were considered jobless, according to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
In October, that represented an unemployment rate of 3.9 percent for the Southwest Ohio county, according to the state government.
The unemployment rate is an estimate and could be revised in the future when more information is available. Only those who are not working and are looking for a job are counted; those who are retired, attending school, give up their job search, or aren’t working for another reason and don’t want to are not part of the number.
Additionally, residents who are working a part-time job and want more or better-paying work are not included in the economic indicator because they are employed.
Unemployment is also based on results of a phone survey of households, as well as the number of people receiving unemployment benefits and population growth.
Currently though, the 7,400 unemployed Butler County residents is the lowest estimate in over a decade for how many local people are jobless, according to state records.
Meanwhile, employment is growing among people who live in Butler County. Last month, approximately 181,000 people were working, just shy of the 181,500 working residents in December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. An additional 1,300 people gained jobs over the last year.
However, the measure of the local economy that didn’t improve year-over-year is the amount of people in the labor force. The total size of Butler County’s labor force — consisting of the 188,400 residents who are working or looking for work — was unchanged in October from the year before and remains 1.3 percent below pre-recession levels.
“We can’t say what the unemployment rate will do next,” said Benjamin Johnson, spokesman for Ohio Job and Family Services. “We expect the economy will continue to strengthen and we’ve been saying that for a long time.”
It’s common for unemployment rates to fluctuate month-to-month due to multiple factors such as seasonal holiday hiring, Johnson said.
Numbers are revised every month, and a major annual revision released in March that takes into account tax records looks back six years to adjust data, Johnson said.
A group of Cincinnati economists that provide an outlook on the regional economy for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber do not expect to see much change in the unemployment rates next year.
Apply now for Kings Island’s next season
Warren County amusement park Kings Island is now taking applications online for the 2016 season.
Apply online at kifun.jobs. Applicants must be 15 years or older. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview, according to park operators.
More than 4,000 seasonal jobs are open.
A range of job opportunities are available in all areas of park operations, including admissions, call center, cash control, entertainment, food and beverage, fire and safety, games, guest services, lifeguards, marketing internships, merchandise, rides, security, sweeps and warehouse, according to Kings Island.
All seasonal employees reapply every year.
For more information about employment, call 513-754-5748.
The 364-acre park in Mason features roller coasters the Beast, Diamondback and Vortex.
The popular regional destination is owned by Ohio-based Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., which also operates Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky in northern Ohio.
Construction is underway on the new seven-story, six-slide water ride Tropical Plunge, which will open next year at Soak City waterpark.
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