Valley’s unemployment rate drops nearly 2 percent
Valley’s unemployment rate drops nearly 2 percent
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning Valley’s unemployment rate tumbled nearly 2 percent in February compared to same month last year, according to newly released data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
In the tri-county area, the unemployment rate in February was 9.3 percent, down from 11.1 percent in February 2011.
The Valley’s civilian labor force — defined as those 16 and older who are working or looking for work, excluding the military, students, volunteer workers and those in institutions, retired or unable to work dropped from 265,000 last February to 261,000 last month.
The number of employed Valley residents rose by 1,200, from 235,700 to 236,900.
The number of unemployed dropped by 5,000, from 29,400 to 24,400.
The unemployment rate is still higher than the Ohio rate of 7.6 percent and the national rate of 8.3 percent.
Read the complete story in Wednesday’s Vindicator and at Vindy.com.