More job losses coming for Valley

BOARDMAN — The job cutting in the Mahoning Valley appears far from over.

Thousands of jobs are expected to be lost this year at restaurants, retail shops and other companies, said Reid Dulberger, executive vice president of the Regional Chamber.

In all, 9,300 jobs will be lost because of cutbacks at Packard, General Motors, Forum Health and WCI Steel, he estimated.

Half of that job loss has occurred as workers left some of those large employers with buyouts or retirement incentives.

The other half is yet to come.

Chamber officials think other employers will be forced to cut back because thousands of Packard and GM workers will be spending less.

Dulberger expects that to happen later this year. Area retailers have escaped much of the impact so far because many people with the one-time incentive payments probably are spending at artificially high levels, he said.

The GM and Delphi buyouts ranged up to $140,000. WCI provided buyouts of $50,000.

Dulberger gave his assessment today after the chamber’s annual economic forecast breakfast at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Centre.