COLUMBUS — Meigs and Gallia counties received a little good news out of Columbus following the release of the latest state unemployment figures.

According to the Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS), Meigs County’s unemployment rate dropped from 15.1 percent in September to 14.5 percent in October. Gallia County’s jobless rate remained unchanged in October from the September figure, standing pat at 9.6 percent.

However, Ohio’s unemployment rate continued to climb, inching up from 10.1 percent in September to 10.5 percent in October. DJFS reported that 618,000 Ohioans are currently unemployed.

The U.S. jobless rate also increased in October, hitting 10.2 percent.

Meigs was one of seven Ohio counties with a jobless figure of 14 percent or higher. Highland County still has the highest unemployment rate in Ohio at 15.9 percent.

Elsewhere in southern Ohio, Athens County saw its jobless rate increase from 8.3 percent in September 8.5 percent in October. Jackson County’s unemployment rate was also up from 10.5 percent in September to 10.7 percent in October. Hocking County’s figure moved up from 10.4 percent in September to 10.7 percent in October.

Pike County also saw an increase in joblessness, from 14.8 percent in September to 15.1 percent in October, recording the second highest figure in Ohio.

Vinton County also saw its unemployment rate increase from 11.2 percent in September to 11.7 percent in Ocober. Ross County’s jobless rate jumped from 11.5 percent in September to 11.9 percent last month. Scioto County’s rate moved upward as well, from 12.1 percent in September to 12.4 percent in October.

Washington County joined Meigs in seeing some improvement, with the unemployment rate dropping slightly from 9.4 percent in September to 9.3 percent in October.

Lawrence County’s jobless rate remained unchanged at 8.5 percent.