Mahoning Valley’s unemployment rate spikes up to 7.3 percent in December

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley’s local unemployment rate in December spiked up to 7.3 percent from a rate of 5.6 percent reported in December 2014.

The non-seasonally adjusted figures for December, and for the year, were released today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Unemployment in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties increased from 13,800 up to 18,500 in December, which is likely in part due to a shutdown at large area employers for the month.

Employment went from 235,000 down to 234,600.

The civilian labor force, or the sum of the employed and unemployed who are 16 years of age and working or seeking work, increased from 249,000 up to 253,000.

Trumbull County’s jobless rate increased the most in December out of the three counties — going from 5.8 percent up to 7.8 percent.

For the year, the three-county unemployment average shows a drop from 6.7 percent in 2014 down to 6.1 percent in 2015.

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