W.Va. jobless rate rises in 45 counties

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The unemployment rate increased in 45 of West Virginia’s 55 counties in December.

WorkForce West Virginia says unemployment fell in nine counties and was unchanged in one.

The state’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate in December declined one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.9 percent.

Monongalia County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.4 percent, followed by Jefferson at 3.6 percent.

Wetzel County’s rate of 10.5 percent was the state’s highest. Calhoun and Webster counties had rates of 10.4 percent.