CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped six-tenths of a percentage point to 9.9% in July as thousands of workers were hired in the service-providing sector.
WorkForce West Virginia said Tuesday that while the number of unemployed state residents fell by 4,600 to 75,400, total unemployment was up 37,000 over the year.
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 200 in July. A gain of 1,000 jobs in the service-providing sector offset a drop of 800 in the goods-producing sector.
Job gains included 2,300 in education and health services, 1,800 in leisure and hospitality, 1,100 in construction, 1,000 in financial activities, 600 in professional and business services, 600 in other services, 100 in trade, transportation and utilities, and 100 in information.
Government employment plummeted by 5,500, due mostly to June poll workers in the primary election leaving the workforce. There also was a decline of 1,200 jobs in mining and logging, and 700 in manufacturing.
The state’s unemployment rate is down from a high of 15.8% in April during the coronavirus pandemic.
The national unemployment rate dropped to 10.2% in July.
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