The first part of the new year might bring few new jobs to the greater Akron area.
The latest leading indicators report for the state suggests weak employment growth for the early part of 2013 in Summit and Portage counties, also known as the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The index for the Akron metro area rose by just 0.1 percent in November to 97.8, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Wednesday. The index was at 96.7 a year ago.
The leading indicators index for all of Ohio also rose by 0.1 percent in November, suggesting weak employment growth this winter across the state. The national composite index of leading economic indicators fell 0.2 percent to 95.8, suggesting slow job growth in the early part of 2013.
The Akron metro and Ohio indices remain below the initial level of 100 set back in 2000.
For the Akron metro area:
• Initial claims for unemployment insurance totaled 3,617 in November, up 15.9 percent from 3,121 in October and down 1.4 percent from 3,667 in November 2011.
• Average weekly hours for manufacturing hit 42 in November, up 0.7 percent from 41.7 in October and up 1.7 percent from 41.3 a year ago.
• The value of housing permits in November was $7.55 million, down 27.9 percent from $10.47 million and up 89 percent from $3.99 million a year ago.
The state report also noted that seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs totaled 324,500 in November in the two-county Akron metro area, down from 325,800 in October and 100 more than a year ago.
Leading economic indicator indices elsewhere for November in Northeast Ohio showed:
• The Canton-Massillon index was unchanged at 89.7 from October, suggesting weak job growth in the next couple of months. The index was at 86.3 a year ago.
• The Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor index was unchanged at 87.5 from October, suggesting weak job growth. The index stood at 86.7 a year ago.
• The Youngstown-Warren-Boardman index was at 87.2, up 0.1 percent from October. That suggests weak job growth. The index was at 86 in November 2011.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.