During last Saturday's Republican Debate, Ohio Governor and presidential candidate John Kasich said, "We've grown jobs by 400,000--that's one of the fastest growing states in the country."
The Facts:
Yes, Ohio has gained 400,000 jobs since John Kasich became governor--all of that gain coming through private sector employers.
However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics--which combines both private and public sector jobs in their rankings--Ohio is nowhere near a national leader in job creation. In fact, statistically, Ohio ranks 24th out of 50 states in job creation.
Under Governor Kasich, Ohio's non-agricultural employment numbers have grown 7.6 percent. Compare that to the national average of 9.4 percent and you get the idea just how unsupported is Mr. Kasich's boast.
Mr. Kasich would like us to believe that, removing public sector jobs (which have diminished under his leadership) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures will show what an ace he is at job creation, but that accounting doesn't move Ohio much closer to leadership status. Counting only private sector job creation moves Ohio from 24th to 22nd.
George Zeller, a Cleveland-based economic researcher, said his monthly statistical data indicates that Ohio has trailed the U.S. average job growth rate for 38 straight months--for over three years of Mr. Kasich's five-year hold on Ohio's top office.
The bordering states of Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky all rank higher than Ohio, no matter which criteria is used to support Governor Kasich's boast, so he can't blame it on geography.
m'eye Verdict:
Governor John Kasich may actually believe that 400,000 new jobs makes him an Olympian in the job creation race, but the whole story says he is still on the practice squad.
I'll give him credit for know HIS numbers, but for selectively ignoring everyone else's and claiming a leadership role he is nowhere near to earning, Mr. Kasich earns 3 out of 5 Gops.
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