SHARON, PA – Russell Mills, the regional executive of the Pittsburgh branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, spoke Wednesday at the Economic Update Breakfast held by the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Despite a rebound in labor force participation, the Mahoning and Shenango valleys are lagging. “[In Mercer County] it’s about a 2% decline overall participation since the pandemic, so that’s one of the sources when folks, when employers said that there’s just not as many workers that they are feeling out there, that’s one of the reasons why,” Mill said.
Youngstown has improved slightly since the pandemic, with a 0.6% employment gain.
Employment gain is lagging in Mercer County, 2.3% below pre-pandemic levels. Mills tied the labor problem in the area to population loss.
Between 2013 and 2023, Mercer County lost 7,272 people, including 634 from 2022 to 2023. Lawrence County lost 5,068 overall and 340 over the one-year period. In Ohio, Mahoning County lost 9,509 and 326; and Trumbull lost 7,583 and 353.