Tag: Unemployment Rate

Unemployment Rates Rise in All 55 West Virginia Counties

Unemployment rates rose in all 55 West Virginia counties in November.

WorkForce West Virginia says Jefferson County’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 3 percent was the lowest in the state, followed by Doddridge, Monongalia and Pendleton counties at 3.4 percent apiece.

Calhoun County had the highest unemployment rate at 9.5 percent. Mingo County was next at 8.8 percent and McDowell County was at 8.4 percent.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a percentage point to 5 percent in November. The national rate was 4.1 percent.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the national unemployment rate was 5.3 percent for November 2017. The actual unemployment rate, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, places the national unemployment rate at 4.1 percent. 

State Jobless Rate Dips to 5.2 Percent in February

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has fallen four-tenths of a percentage point to 5.2 percent in February.

WorkForce West Virginia says the number of unemployed residents fell by 3,300 to 40,300. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1,700.

Employment gains included 700 in construction, 500 in leisure and hospitality, 400 both in manufacturing and financial activities, and 300 in mining and logging.

There were 600 job losses in trade, transportation and utilities.

The national unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.7 percent in February.

Exiting West Virginia Governor Travels for Business

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who inherited a national recession and coal industry downturn, says attracting business has been his six-year administration’s priority, counting $13 billion in commercial investments that had some state involvement.

After announcing a Canadian aircraft company’s expansion in Bridgeport last week, Tomblin headed to Cuba with representatives of three West Virginia companies looking to export there.

He went to Britain and Ireland in October and says he expects two related business expansion announcements before exiting office in January.

West Virginia’s unemployment rate still hovers near 6 percent, above the national average, in a state that lost 7,000 mining jobs since 2008.

The Tomblin administration’s count includes $7 billion in private investments for retention and expansion projects and $6 billion for new projects, many seeded with tax breaks.

State Unemployment Rate Unchanged in August

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in August at 5.7 percent.

WorkForce West Virginia said in a news release Tuesday that the number of unemployed state residents dropped by 200 last month to 44,800.

Job gains included 1,200 in trade, transportation and utilities; 600 in educational and health services; 600 in leisure and hospitality; 400 in professional and business services; and 200 in mining and logging.

Job declines included 600 in government, 500 each in manufacturing and financial activities and 200 in information.

The state’s overall nonfarm payroll employment has increased by 1,500 since August 2015, including gains of 5,100 in educational and health services, 2,600 in leisure and hospitality and 500 in government. Mining and logging lost 3,900 jobs.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent.

Unemployment Rates Drop in 52 of 55 West Virginia Counties

Unemployment rates dropped in 52 of West Virginia’s 55 counties in March.

WorkForce West Virginia says the unemployment rate rose in McDowell County and was unchanged in Barbour and Brooke counties.

Jefferson County’s 4 unemployment rate was the lowest in the state, followed by Berkeley County at 4.7 percent and Monongalia County at 5 percent.

Calhoun County had the highest unemployment rate at 16 percent. Mingo was next at 14.3 percent and McDowell was at 13.6 percent.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in March at 6.5 percent.

State Unemployment Rate Unchanged in March

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in March at 6.5 percent.

WorkForce West Virginia said in a news release Tuesday that the number of unemployed state residents increased by 600 last month to 51,400.

Job gains included 1,400 in construction, 800 in leisure and hospitality, 700 in educational and health services, 500 in professional and business services, and 200 each in financial activities and government.

Job declines included 700 in mining and logging, and 400 in both manufacturing and in trade, transportation and utilities.

Nationally, the unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 5 percent in March.

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