New data says Youngstown has worst unemployment rate in the state
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - New statistics are putting a magnifying glass over joblessness in the Valley.
Data released by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services Office of Workforce Development says unemployment rates across the state are still above the national average but are on the decline from last year at this time.
Statewide, more than 247,000 people were unemployed in October 2018 in the state of Ohio- raising the unemployment rate to 4.3.
According to statewide data, that number is down from 4.4 one year ago.
However, unemployment rates in the Valley are a different story.
Among cities with a population of 50,000 or more, Youngstown had the highest unemployment rate. The new data says that Youngstown's October unemployment rate was 7.4.
The unemployment rate in the city was slightly up from last year- 7.3 in October 2017.
For other cities listed in the report, the next closest city was Lorain, with an unemployment rate of 6.2.
State officials say there are an estimated 1,600 unemployed in the city limits of Youngstown.
While Youngstown recorded the highest unemployment rate for a city, both Mahoning and Trumbull counties made the list for worst rates as well.
In a county by county breakdown, Trumbull County ranked 4th worst in the state, with an unemployment rate of 6.0.
Mahoning County also made the top 10 worst, with a rate of 5.7.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people are classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work.
Actively looking for work may consist of any of the following activities:
- Contacting n employer directly or having a job interview
- A public or private employment agency
- Friends or relatives
- A school or university employment center
- Submitting resumes or filling out applications
- Placing or answering job advertisements
- Checking union or professional registers
- Some other means of active job search
Passive methods of job search do not have the potential to connect job seekers with potential employers and therefore do not qualify as active job search methods. Examples of passive methods include attending a job training program or course, or merely reading about job openings that are posted in newspapers or on the Internet.
Workers expecting to be recalled from temporary layoff are counted as unemployed whether or not they have engaged in a specific jobseeking activity. In all other cases, the individual must have been engaged in at least one active job search activity in the 4 weeks preceding the interview and be available for work (except for temporary illness).
