Sharp rise in unemployment shows need for change

For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006

CONTACT: John Kohlstrand at (614) 466-9036

Sharp rise in unemployment shows need for change

Today’s announcement that unemployment in Ohio has risen from 5.1 to 5.8 percent shows the critical need for change at the Statehouse, House Democratic Leader Joyce Beatty said today.

“It’s clear that the misguided policies of the past 12 years simply aren’t working,” Beatty said. “Ohioans are working longer hours in order to try to keep up. And some aren’t even finding work at all.”

Beatty, D-Columbus, said the cost of college continues to grow faster than people’s ability to pay, pricing Ohioans out of a chance at a brighter future. Health care costs continue to grow, burdening employers who often shift the costs onto their employees.

“State government has simply walked away from these issues,” Beatty said. “We need leaders fully engaged in the fight to improve our economy. That’s not happening right now.”

Unemployment in Ohio is now a full point higher than the national average of 4.8 percent. Since 1997, Ohio has lost more jobs in goods-producing industries than any other state, according to a recent report in the Akron Beacon Journal.

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