Mahoning Valley umemployment dropped in August

YOUNGSTOWN — After two consecutive months of increases, the Mahoning Valley’s unemployment rate has again started to fall.

The decrease was a combination of the labor force shrinking by 1,000 workers, 800 more people employed and the number of unemployed falling by 2,600, according to Ohio Labor Market Information related by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The combined unemployment rate for Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties was 7.7 percent in August. This is the second-lowest rate of 2012 behind 7.4 percent in May.

The unemployment rate for Trumbull County decreased from 9.1 percent in July to 8.2 percent, in Columbiana County it dropped from 8.3 percent to 7.6 percent, and Mahoning County had the lowest unemployment rate at 7.3 percent, which was down from 8.3 percent in July.

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com