WARREN - Local unemployment rates continued to improve in March, but the trend of a declining labor pool also continued as jobless give up looking for work
Trumbull County's preliminary rate fell to 8.5 percent from a revised 10.2 percent in the same month last year, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Tuesday.
Warren's rate improved to 8.9 percent from 10.5 percent in the same period.
Warren's year-over-year comparison shows the labor force shed 200 workers to 17,400 in March, with 1,600 unemployed. Trumbull County's pool of workers fell to 100,000 from 101,400 in the period, with 8,500 jobless.
Youngstown's rate fell to 10.4 percent from 12.1 percent last year, while Mahoning County's rate tumbled to 8.8 percent from 10.3 percent.
Youngstown's labor pool dipped to 25,400 from 25,800. Mahoning County's available work force was 111,500 versus 112,800 a year ago.
The metropolitan Trumbull and Mahoning counties rate improved to 8.7 percent from 10.3 percent for the period.
County and city rates are compared year-over-year because they're not adjusted for seasonal trends, such as construction hiring in the spring and layoffs of holiday workers after Christmas.