Valley unemployment down 2.4 percent

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The number of unemployed workers in the Mahoning Valley in September went from 7.8 percent in 2013 to 5.4 percent last month.

Data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services on Tuesday showed 14,000 unemployed compared with 20,200 last year.

An additional 2,000 workers were employed last month compared with last September.

However, the civilian labor force did drop by 4,000.

In Mahoning County, the unemployment rate went from 7.8 percent to 5.5 percent with 800 more workers employed in September 2014 compared with September 2013.

Trumbull County also saw a decrease from 7.7 to 5.4 percent, with an additional 700 employed in September 2014. The unemployment rate in Columbiana County went from 7.7 to 5.5 percent. Columbiana had 500 more workers employed in September 2014 compared with September 2013.

Mekael Teshome, economist for PNC Bank, said the numbers tell a mixed story because there are jobs being added, but there are still people dropping out of the labor force.

Typically, 5 percent to 5.5 percent could be considered full employment. Teshome believes there are still a lot of people who are not being counted.

“We still have unemployed and underemployed people,” he said.