WARREN — The jobless rates in Trumbull and Mahoning counties dropped again last month, the fourth decline in a row that the counties experienced a decline, according to the latest unemployment numbers from the state.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported this week that in October, the jobless rate in both counties was 4.8 percent — a 0.7 percent decline from the 5.5 percent Trumbull County posted in September and a drop of 0.6 percent from 5.4 percent in Mahoning County.

October’s rate is 1 percent lower than what each county had in October 2020.

Since hitting a high of 7.6 percent in June, the rate in Mahoning County has steadily fallen — 7.4 percent in July, 6.5 percent in August and 5.4 percent in September.

Trumbull County followed the same pattern; however, its 2021 high rate was 7.9 percent in February. From June, which posted the second highest rate at 7.7 percent, joblessness has lessened — 7.5 percent in July, 6.6 percent in August and 5.5 percent in September.

The rates last month put Trumbull and Mahoning counties in a three-way tie with Jackson County for eighth highest in Ohio. The standings take into account ties among

other counties with the same rates higher in the list.

Last month in Warren, the rate fell 1.1 percent to 5.8 percent from September. Youngstown fell 1.2 percent to 6 percent for the month.

In October 2020 Warren’s rate was 7.9 percent, and Youngstown was at 8.7 percent.

Elsewhere in Ohio, Monroe County in the eastern part of the state along the Ohio River, had the highest jobless rate among counties in October, 5.8 percent. The lowest among the state’s 88 counties was Holmes County in central Ohio, 2.4 percent. Geauga County had the third-best rate, 2.6 percent.

Ohio’s rate fell to 5.1 percent in October from 5.3 percent in September. The U.S. rate was 4.6 percent in October, down from 4.8 percent in September.

By the numbers

Unemployment rates by county, state and nation for October 2021:

• Mahoning County 4.8 percent

• Trumbull County 4.8 percent

• Columbiana County 4.4 percent

• Ashtabula County 4.3 percent

• Portage County 3.6 percent

• Geauga County 2.6 percent

• Ohio 5.1 percent

• United States 4.6 percent

SOURCES: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics