Tuesday, January 24, 2012
YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley unemployment situation mathematically ended 2011 much better than it ended 2010.
The unemployment rate dropped from 10.5 to 8.5 percent.
But 22,700 area residents still remain without work, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, and the area's labor force shrunk by 4,000 compared to the end of last year.
At the end of 2010, 28,400 residents could not find employment. The area's 8.5 percent unemployment rate is the lowest year-end rate since 2007. That year, the Valley had an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent.
Ohio's December unemployment rate was 8.1 percent; the nationwide rate was 8.5 percent.
For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com