“Ohio was recently recognized as being the number-one job creator in the Midwest, an exciting distinction for our state.

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today released the following statement regarding the announcement of the drop in Ohio’s unemployment to 7.7%:

“At this time just two years ago, Ohio’s unemployment rate was at a staggering 10.6%.  Since then, particularly in the last year, we have seen a steady decrease in the number of unemployed Ohioans, now reaching a level below 8%.  With the number of unemployed Ohioans dropping by 11,000 and an increase in the number of employed Ohioans by 9,000, the numbers appear to show that the unemployed are returning to the workforce.

“As I have said repeatedly, House Republicans have never lost sight of creating a job-friendly environment in Ohio and the numbers today indicate that Ohio’s economic climate is improving.  This is not ‘mission accomplished’ as there is more work to be done, but House Republicans are delighted that Ohio is truly showing signs of recovery. During this same time period, unlike the federal government, Ohio’s credit rating by Standard & Poors improved, further demonstrating that Ohio’s elected officials are serious about fixing our economy and opening Ohio for business.

“Ohio was recently recognized as being the number-one job creator in the Midwest, an exciting distinction for our state.  House Republicans are committed to making continuous improvements in Ohio’s business climate and are working tirelessly towards reducing the overall cost of doing business here.  Together, we can ensure the long-term financial stability of our state and prove that Ohio is once again a leader in job creation not just in the Midwest, but throughout the United States.”