Trumbull County job loss is 20 percent since 2000

Trumbull County has lost more than 20 percent of its jobs since 2000, which amounts to a cut in total payroll of $1 billion a year, a new study says.

“When you have job losses of this magnitude, there is a lot of suffering on part of families,” said George Zeller, an economic research analyst from Cleveland.

Governments also are left with less tax revenues, he noted. Warren city officials said this week, for example, that they must cut expenses by up to $1.5 million in the next couple months.

Trumbull County’s job losses have been led by high-wage employers, General Motors and Delphi Packard Electric, which have reduced staff through attrition and buyout offers.

GM’s Lordstown complex has reduced its hourly work force from 7,400 to 4,200 in the past nine years and is in the process of laying off 2,800 workers because of slow car demand. Packard has cut its hourly staff from 5,500 to 1,000 since 2000.

“Those have been two gigantic blows for Trumbull County,” said Zeller, who prepares an annual report on Ohio’s economy for the Cuyahoga County commissioners.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com