Valley jobs down, but the employment rate continuing to drop.

Valley jobs down, but the employment rate continuing to drop.

YOUNGSTOWN

Employment figures in the Mahoning Valley continue to have mixed results with jobs down, but the employment rate continuing to drop.

In September there were 243,600 people employed in the Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties — an increase of 1,000 jobs compared to September 2011. But the figure is down by 1,400 from August, according to figures form the U.S. Department of Labor. Conversely the unemployment rate is 7.4 percent, down from 7.7 percent in August and a 1.5 percent reduction from last September.

Two of the three counties followed the same pattern. Mahoning County had the lowest unemployment rate locally at 6.9 percent in September and lost a total of 800 jobs. Trumbull County had the highest unemployment rate at 7.9 percent and lost 700 jobs.

Columbiana County was the only area county to gain jobs with an increase of 100 in September. Columbiana County has gained jobs every month this year. The unemployment rate for the county was 7.3 percent down from 7.6 percent in August.