Mahoning Valley jobless rate shows large drop in labor force

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley’s nonseasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped by 0.1 percent in November to 5.8 percent.

November 2015’s jobless rate was 5.9 percent.

During the month, Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties saw a drop of 700 in the number of unemployed, but the counties also saw a drop in the number of employed by 4,900, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The civilian labor force, or the sum of the unemployed and employed, dropped by 6,000, which is likely the reason for the slight drop in the Valley’s jobless rate year over year.

In just Mahoning County, the unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percent to 5.6 percent from 5.8 percent reported in November 2015. The number of unemployed in the county dropped to 5,900 from 6,200 reported in November 2015 and the number of employed also dropped from 101,100 reported in November 2015 to 99,200 in November 2016. The county’s civilian labor force decreased by 2,200 year over year.

In Trumbull County, the November unemployment rate dropped to 5.8 percent from 6.1 percent a year earlier. The number of unemployed declined by 400 to 5,200 and the number of employed dropped by 1,700 to 84,500. The civilian labor force decreased by 2,000.

In Columbiana County, the November unemployment went unchanged year over year. The number of unemployed dropped by 100 to 2,800. The number of employed also dropped by 1,400 to 45,200. The civilian labor force dropped by 1,600 to 48,000.

Ohio’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in November, unchanged from October.

The U.S. unemployment rate declined by 0.3 percent to 4.6 percent in November.