Jobless rates rise in 41 of 55 West Virginia counties

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Unemployment rates rose in 41 of West Virginia’s 55 counties in December.

WorkForce West Virginia says jobless rates dropped in nine counties and remained steady in five others.

Jefferson County’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 3 percent was the lowest in the state, followed by Berkeley County at 3.5 percent and Monongalia County at 3.7 percent.

Calhoun County had the highest unemployment rate at 12.4 percent. McDowell County was next at 9.4 percent and Roane County was at 7.9 percent.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped slightly to 5.1 percent in December. The national rate was 3.9 percent.