Valley’s unemployment rate increased in October

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley’s nonseasonally adjusted jobless rate crept up to 5.9 percent in October 2016 from 5.5 percent reported in October 2015.

The number of unemployed went from 13,700 in October 2015 to 14,500 in October 2016 while the number of employed dropped from 233,800 to 229,600.

The civilian labor force, which is the sum of the employed and the unemployed, was 244,000, down from 247,000 reported in October 2015.

In Mahoning County, the unemployment rate went up to 5.8 percent from 5.4 percent reported in October 2015. The number of unemployed went up 500 to 6,200 and the number of employed dropped 1,400 to 99,500. The civilian labor force dropped by 1,000.

In Trumbull County, the jobless rate went up to 6 percent from 5.8 percent reported in October 2015. The number of unemployed increased by 100 to 5,400 and the number of employed dropped by 1,300 to 84,700. The civilian labor force dropped by 1,000 to 90,200.

In Columbiana County, the jobless rate increased to 6 percent in October 2016 from 5.4 percent in October 2015. The number of unemployed went up 200 to 2,900 while the number of employed dropped by 1,500 to 45,400. The civilian labor force dropped by 1,300 year over year.

Ohio’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in October 2016, up from 4.8 percent in September.

The state saw an increase of 6,400 jobs in the goods-producing industries. Meanwhile the private sector lost 6,000 jobs. Professional and business services lost 5,000 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities lost 2,000, other services lost 1,600, financial activity lost 100. Gains of 1,600 were seen in leisure and hospitality, 600 were gained in educational and health services and information gained 500. Government employment decreased by 2,500 on the local side and 700 on the state side. The federal government saw no gains or losses.

The U.S. unemployment rate for October was 4.9 percent, 0.1 percentage points lower than in September 2016 and October 2015.