COLUMBUS — Ohio’s unemployment rate was 5.3% in January, down from a revised 5.6% in December 2020.

Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 28,900 over the month, from a revised 5,277,800 in December to 5,306,700 in January 2021, according to a news release from the state.

The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in January was 307,000, down from 321,000 in December. The number of unemployed has increased by 39,000 in the past 12 months from 268,000. The January unemployment rate for Ohio increased from 4.5% in January 2020.

The U.S. unemployment rate for January was 6.3%, down from 6.7% in December, and up from 3.5% in January 2020.

Jobless claims

Of the 128,161 initial jobless claims reported this week to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, at least 19,000 have been flagged for potential fraud, the department announced in a news release.

Anyone who suspects their identity was compromised and used to file a fraudulent unemployment claim is urged to report it to the ODJFS immediately by visiting unemployment.ohio.gov, clicking on “Report Identity Theft,” and following the instructions. As an alternative, individuals also may call (833) 658-0394.

Ohioans filed 128,161 initial jobless claims last week, according to statistics ODJFS reported to the U.S. Department of Labor.