State Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.5% in February

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point to 6.5 percent in February.

WorkForce West Virginia says in a news release that the number of unemployed state residents increased by 1,300 last month to 50,800.

Job declines included 700 in educational and health services, 400 in construction and 300 in financial services. Job gains included 300 in leisure and hospitality, 200 both in mining and logging and in trade, transportation and utilities, and 100 in government.

Nationally, the unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent in February.