Valley’s jobless rate jumps up in March

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley’s non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate went from 6.6 percent in March 2015 up to 7.3 percent in March 2016.

The number of unemployed increased 1,600 while the number of employed decreased by 600.

The civilian labor force, the sum of the employed and unemployed, increased by 1,000 year over year in the Valley.

In Mahoning County alone, the unemployment rate in March 2016 was 7 percent compared with a rate of 6.5 percent reported in March 2015.

In Trumbull County, the rate went from 6.9 percent in March 2015 up to 7.5 percent in March 2016.

In Columbiana County, the rate in March 2016 was 7.5 percent compared with 6.3 percent in March 2015.