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West Virginia

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West Virginia payroll employment increased by 3,200 jobs (0.4 percent) in May. The unemployment rate declined by 0.1 percentage point over the month to 4.2 percent.

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  • "West Virginia's job growth edged up in May due to continued hiring in government, education, and health services." – Adam Scavette
  • West Virginia payroll employment increased by 3,200 jobs (0.4 percent), on net, in May. Government (2,800 jobs), education and health services (700 jobs), and manufacturing (300 jobs) added jobs in May, but losses occurred in construction (400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (200 jobs) and financial activities (100 jobs).
  • On a year-over-year basis, West Virginia payroll employment increased by 13,200 jobs (1.9 percent), on net. The most jobs were added over the year in education and health services (6,300 jobs) and government (6,300 jobs). The only industries that lost jobs over the past year were trade, transportation, and utilities (1,600 jobs) and manufacturing (400 jobs).
  • The unemployment rate in West Virginia declined by 0.1 percentage point over the month to 4.2 percent but has risen 0.6 percentage point from its May 2023 reading of 3.6 percent.

Housing Market icon showing a picture of a house Housing Market Conditions

  • West Virginia issued 386 residential permits in May, up from 335 permits issued in April and up from the 333 issued in May 2023.
  • According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values in West Virginia in the fourth quarter were up 9.4 percent from a year earlier.
Snapshot Resources
  • Term Definitions

    Payroll Employment
    The number of nonfarm jobs (persons on payrolls) according to where those jobs are located.

    Unemployment Rate
    The number of unemployed persons (those not employed but available and searching for work) as a percent of the civilian labor force (the total number of employed plus unemployed persons).

    Industry Structure
    A breakdown of total nonfarm jobs by industry. Percentages sum to 100 percent.

    Industry Growth
    The percentage change in jobs in each industry from a year ago.

    Building Permits
    The number of privately owned single-family and multi-family units authorized in permit-issuing places.

    House Price Index
    A repeat sales index, measuring average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings on the same single-family properties.

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