Unemployment insurance claims in Ohio declined last week

The Labor department says the number of applications for unemployment insurance benefits in Ohio fell last week by 31-hundred, the fifth largest decrease among the fifty states. Nationally, claims fell by 35-thousand to a seasonally adjusted 353-thousand, the largest decline since February 2011. Economists say the numbers reflect temporary summertime layoffs in the auto industry. Applications must fall consistently below 375-thousand to lower the unemployment rate. Meanwhile state employment officials say the jobless rate for the Columbus-area rose to six-point-five-percent in June, up nearly a half-percent from May.  Local economists say it's a sign of an increase in the number of college graduates looking for work.