Local Unemployment Rates Hold Steady in August

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Unemployment rates in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in August were among the highest in the state, ranking among the top nine of Ohio’s 88 counties last month. 

At 11.4%, Trumbull County’s unemployment rate was third-highest in Ohio, increasing a tenth of a percentage point from 11.3% in August, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Tuesday. The only two counties with higher unemployment rates were Monroe County at 11.9% and Cuyahoga County at 11.6%.

Mahoning County’s unemployment rate last month, 11.1%, was unchanged from the July report, and was fifth-highest in the state. Columbiana County’s 10.1% rate was down from July’s 10.3%, but still was ninth-highest in the state.

By comparison, unemployment for the three counties in August 2019 was 6.3% in Trumbull County, 6.0% in Mahoning County and 4.9% in Columbiana County. 

Unemployment rates for the Mahoning Valley’s two largest cities were among the highest reported among Ohio cities but did not top that list in August. 

Warren’s rate was 15.2% last month, up from 14.9% in July and more than double the 7.5% rate in August 2019. Youngstown’s unemployment rate was 15% in August, up from 14.6% in July and also more than doubling its 7.4% rate a year ago. 

Maple Heights had the highest unemployment rate among Ohio cities in August, with 16.9%, followed by Cleveland at 15.6%. Garfield Heights reported a 15.3% rate while Euclid registered a 15.2% rate. 

The unemployment rate for the Youngstown-Warren metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Ohio and Mercer County in Pennsylvania, was 11.2% in August, down from 11.6% in July but up from 6% in August 2019.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.