Unemployment rates throughout the six-county area show uptick

Unemployment rates throughout the six-county area rose significantly from December to January, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Rates throughout the region rose anywhere from 1 to 1.8 percent. Putnam County had the lowest rate at 4.8 percent. Henry County had the highest at 7.2 percent. Shannon Jones, director of Henry County Job & Family Services, said the reason Henry County’s rate is so high was because of seasonal layoffs at Campbell Soup Co. Layoffs are tiered, and 70 people were laid off in January. Another 126 were laid off in February.