West Virginia's unemployment rate rises to 10.5 percent in January

    CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s unemployment rate jumped nearly two percentage points to 10.5  percent in January, WorkForce West Virginia has reported. The number of unemployed state residents rose 15,300 to 82,400. Total unemployment was up 29,600 over the year. 

    Total nonfarm payroll employment declined 22,300, with losses of 5,800 in the goods-producing sector and 16,500 in the service-providing sector. Within the goods-producing sector, losses were led by a seasonal decline of 4,500 in construction. Other losses included 600 in mining and logging and 700 in
manufacturing. Declines within the service-providing sector were driven by seasonal losses of 5,300 in trade, transportation, and utilities and 4,700 in government. Other declines included 2,800 in leisure and hospitality, 1,500 in educational and health services, 1,400 in professional and business services, 700 in financial activities, and 100 in information. Employment in other services was unchanged over the month. 

    Since January 2009, total nonfarm payroll employment has fallen 23,000, with losses of 13,900 in the goods-producing sector and 9,100 in the service-providing sector. Declines included 5,200 in mining and logging, 4,900 in manufacturing, 4,600 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 3,800 in construction, 3,100 in leisure and hospitality, 2,600 in professional and business services, 1,600 in financial activities, 800 in information, and 800 in other services. Employment gains include 3,300 in educational and health services and 1,100 in government. 

    West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbed three-tenths of a percentage point to 9.3 percent, while the national rate declined three-tenths of a percentage point to 9.7 percent.