Recent improvement in Warren's jobless rate stalled in October as 15 percent of the city's labor force - highest among Ohio's cities - remained out of work, the same as in September, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Tuesday.
The city's rate, which has been the state's worst for nine of 10 months this year, has improved since hitting 16.5 percent in June when layoffs from the General Motors Corp. Lordstown Complex car plant, Severstal Warren steel mill and other employers hit.
More than 3,000 auto workers have been recalled to the GM complex since September, also putting hundreds of auto parts supplier employees back to work, but 1,200 workers at Severstal Warren remain idled.
Warren had a jobless rate of 8.6 percent in October 2008, before the full impact of the recession struck last winter.
Youngstown stayed second in the state but saw its rate worsen to 14 percent from 13.3 percent in September. The city had a 9.6 percent jobless rate a year ago.
Trumbull County posted the state's 10th worst jobless rate at 13.5 percent, the same as in September. The rate was 7.5 percent a year ago.
Mahoning County had a 12 percent rate, up from 11.8 percent the prior month. The rate was 7.2 percent a year ago.
Nearby Geauga County had the state's lowest jobless rate among the 88 counties at 6.7 percent, up from 6.5 percent in September. Holmes County, which like Geauga is heavily populated by self-reliant Amish farmers and merchants, had the state's second best rate at 7 percent.
Rates worsened among other neighboring counties from September. Ashtabula had a 12.8 jobless rate versus 12.6 the month before; Columbiana stood at 12.7 percent compared to 12.5 percent and Portage rose to 9.5 from 9.2.
Around the state, Highland County led all counties with a 15.9 percent rate, up from 15.3 percent September. Pike County was second at 15.1 percent.
Stark County rose to 11.3 percent from 11 percent, while Summit County had climbed to 9.8 from 9.6.
Worst cities after Warren and Youngstown were Trotwood at 13.5 percent, Canton and Lorain tied at 12.8, Lima at 12.6, Dayton and Toledo at 12.4 and Zanesville tied with Mansfield at 12.2.
Cleveland Heights had the state's lowest jobless rate for cities at 6.6 percent.