Valley’s unemployment rate drops

The Valley’s unemployment rate has once again fallen.

Unemployment was at 9.5 percent in April for the combined area of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

It’s the first time since December 2008 (9.2 percent) that the unemployment rate has fallen below 10 percent. Last month the unemployment rate was 10.2 percent.

The area’s unemployment rate is still higher than the national average (9 percent) and Ohio’s (8.6 percent).

The Valley’s civilian workforce fell by 1,000 compared to March, but 1,000 more people found employment. There are now 25,500 unemployed Valley residents.

The U.S. Department of Labor defines the civilian labor force as people age 16 and older who are currently working or looking for work. It excludes members of the military, students and volunteer workers, as well as those who are in institutions, retired or unable to work.

Not counted in the statistics are those unemployed who have given up looking for work and therefore aren’t counted as unemployed.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and at Vindy.com.