What a difference a year makes.
The latest figures released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services shows the unemployment rate decreased across Summit, Stark, Medina, Wayne and Portage counties from December 2011, compared to December 2010.
That still left 66,000 people looking for work in December.
The Akron metropolitan area saw a decrease in unemployment from 9.1% - 7.3% in 2011. In the Canton metropolitan area, unemployment dropped from 10.3% to 8.1% in the same time period.
Information provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
| Area | Labor Force | Employment | Unemployment | Unemployment Rate 12/11 | Unemployment Rate 12/10 | % Difference |
| Akron | 103,800 | 95,500 | 8,300 | 8.0 | 9.5 | -1.5 |
| Barberton | 13,100 | 12,000 | 1,200 | 9.0 | 11.2 | -2.2 |
| Canton | 34,300 | 34,300 | 3,100 |
9.2 |
11.1 | -1.9 |
| Cuy. Falls | 28,600 | 28,600 | 2,000 | 7.0 | 8.5 | -1.5 |
| Kent | 16,700 | 16,700 | 900 | 5.5 | 7.2 | -1.7 |
| Massillon | 15,600 | 15,600 | 1,300 | 8.6 | 10.4 | -1.8 |
| Medina | 14,000 | 14,000 | 900 | 6.1 | 7.8 | -1.7 |
| Stow | 19,200 | 19,200 | 1,200 | 6.2 | 7.5 | -1.3 |
| Wooster | 13,000 | 13,000 | 800 | 6.2 | 7.6 | -1.4 |
