The result is a county with an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent — a number that could increase once previously announced layoffs take place. The job losses could also further impact the county’s budget, which has been battered by declining revenues and cuts in state funding.
Liz Claiborne officials dealt another blow this week when they announced they would be closing their West Chester Twp. distribution center, which puts about 400 jobs at risk of leaving the county.
They could join West Chester’s BAE Systems, which will lay off 125 employees in July.
FedEx laid off 222 workers, and MISA Metals in Middletown laid off 79 workers in May.
But Ohio Department of Development spokeswoman Katie Sabatino said, “It’s important to note that Liz Claiborne is not a done deal.”
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