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State Unemployment Lowest Since November By JUSTIN D. ANDERSON The Intelligencer
June 29, 2003
The unemployment rate continued to decline over the month of May in West Virginia, falling four-tenths of a percentage point to 5.8 percent. This represents the lowest unemployment rate in the state since November, the state bureau of employment programs reported.
The Northern Panhandle experienced much the same employment conditions over the month, with every county reporting either average or better than average unemployment rates with the exception of Wetzel County, which reported a worse than average unemployment rate of 7.7 percent out of a total civilian workforce of 7,480.
Hancock County reported a 6.4 percent rate out of a possible 14,530 civilian workforce; Brooke County reported a 6.1 percent rate with a workforce of 11,080; Marshall County reported a 5.7 percent rate out of a 16,140-person civilian workforce; and Tyler County reported a 6.3 percent rate when considering its workforce of 4,250.
All of the above listed counties fared "average" when compared to the state unemployment rate.
Ohio County reported a better than average unemployment rate of 4.1 percent out of a total civilian workforce of 23,950 one of the six of the 55 state counties to report better than average in May.
Statewide, nonfarm payroll employment rose 4,700 in May, with gains of 900 in the goods-producing sector and 3,800 in the service producing sector.
The service producing sector recorded gains of 1,800 in leisure and hospitality, 1,100 in trade, transportation and utilities, 700 in other services, 500 in financial activities, 200 in educational and health services and 100 in information.
Government declined 400, while professional and business services slipped 200 over the month, BEP reported.
Since May 2002, total nonfarm payroll employment has fallen 12,800. An "over-the-year" decline of 11,100 in government was due almost entirely to the removal of temporary election workers from the survey.
Over-the-year gains include 2,700 in professional and business services, 900 in financial activities, 800 in educational and health services and 300 in natural resources and mining.
West Virginia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.9 percent, while the national rate continued to clime to 6.1 percent. This is the fourth month this year in which the state rate has tied or been lower than the national rate, according to BEP. The seasonally adjusted national rate for the month of May was 5.9 percent.
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