From staff and wire reports

Ohio's unemployment rate rose to 6.6 percent in June, up from 6.3 percent in May, according to state figures released Friday.

While the unemployment rate rose, Ohio actually had thousands more people employed in June than in May, according to state figures.

The number of unemployed workers in June was 393,000, up from 380,000 in May. The number of unemployed people has increased by 52,000 in the past 12 months.

The rate this June was up from 5.7 percent a year earlier. The state figure also topped the national rate of 5.5 percent.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says workers continued to enter the labor force in June at a rate greater than the actual hiring demand, so the increase in the unemployment rate was coupled with a rise in employment.

Ohio's nonfarm payroll employment, at 5,424,700 in June, was up 7,900 from May, according to the state's latest business establishment survey.

Jobs in service industries rose 6,400 to 4,430,500. Leisure and hospi
tality and government each added 2,900 jobs. Also up were trade, transportation, and utilities, other services and professional and business services. Goods-producing industries rose 1,500 to 994,200. Gains in durable goods boosted manufacturing jobs by 1,600, while natural resources and mining added 100 jobs.

Educational and health services dropped 1,200 from May. Small declines were noted in financial activities information and construction.

Ohio city and county labor information for June will be released Tuesday.

In a related matter, the Ohio Employee Confidence Index increased 5.7 points to 47.1 in June, according to a monthly survey called the Spherion Employment Report.

The monthly survey indicates that although fewer workers plan to look for new jobs in the next 12 months, more workers are confident in their ability to find one. The survey is conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of temporary employment firm Spherion Corp.

The report showed:

• Two-thirds of workers are confident in the future of their current employer, compared to 50 percent in May.

• 77 percent of workers believe it is unlikely they will lose their jobs in the next year, an increase of eight percentage points from the previous month.

• 51 percent of workers are confident in their ability to find a new job, an increase of 4 percentage points from the previous month.