WARREN - Local unemployment numbers were down more than a percentage point in August compared with the prior month and also compared with this time last year, according to numbers released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Trumbull County reported 8.2 percent unemployed and Mahoning reported 7.3 percent unemployed, compared with the statewide rate of 7.2 percent. That figure was unchanged from July.
Numbers for Trumbull County in July were 9.1 percent and 9.6 percent a year ago in August 2011. Mahoning County's unemployment numbers also were down in August to 7.3 percent compared with 8.3 percent in July and 9.4 percent in August 2011.
Youngstown's civilian work force is listed by Job and Family Services as 25,700. Of that, 23,300 are employed.
Trumbull County in August listed a total available civilian work force of 102,100, with 8,400 of that looking for work.
Mahoning County in August reported 112,300 people in the civilian labor force; 8,200 of them were unemployed.
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 413,000, down from 418,000 in July. The number of unemployed has decreased by 95,000 in the past 12 months from 508,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio was down from 8.8 percent in August 2011.
The U.S. unemployment rate for August was 8.1 percent, down from 8.3 percent in July, and down from 9.1 percent a year ago.
Statewide, service-providing industries declined 4,200 over the month to 4,332,800. Job losses occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (-7,100), educational and health services (-4,800), and other services (-200). Gains were seen in leisure and hospitality (+3,500), professional and business services (+2,200), financial activities (+1,200), government (+900), and information (+100). Goods-producing industries, at 854,800, were up 2,200 from July. Construction gained 2,600. Mining and logging lost 300 jobs while manufacturing dropped 100.
Among the state's 88 counties, the August 2012 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 4.1 percent in Mercer County to a high of 12.1 percent in Pike County. Statistics showed rates decreased in 83 of the 88 counties. In August, the comparable rate for Ohio was 6.8 percent.
Eight counties had unemployment rates at or below 5.5 percent in August. Neighboring Geauga County was among the counties with the lowest rates, at 5.3 percent.
The rates are not seasonally adjusted.