by John Beagle

Ohio's unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.3 percent last month as job gains in the service sector made up for declines in manufacturing employment, the state Department of Job and Family Services said Friday. The number of unemployed workers jumped by 95,000 from November, 2007, to 435,000 last month, state officials said.

Ohio plans to borrow $500 million in January and February to ensure unemployed workers in Ohio will continue to receive benefits.

The state's unemployment benefits fund is facing an increase in claims while seeing a drop in revenue collected through taxes on businesses.

The Ohio Unemployment fund has about $130 million, well below the minimum safe level of about $2.5 billion according to state law.