W.Va. jobless rate dips to 6.2 percent in May
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to 6.2 percent in May, a two-tenths of a percentage point drop from April.
WorkForce West Virginia said in a news release Tuesday the number of unemployed state residents dropped by 1,800 last month to 48,600.
Job gains included 9,400 in government, 1,100 in professional and business services and 500 in financial activities.
Job declines included 1,900 in construction, 1,300 in leisure and hospitality, and 600 in mining and logging.
The state’s overall nonfarm payroll employment has increased by 1,400 since May 2015, but has dropped by 6,800 in mining and logging.
West Virginia’s jobless figure has dropped two consecutive months, and is at its lowest level since December, when the rate also was 6.2 percent.
Nationally, the unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in May.