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Mine layoffs are reflected in unemployment rates By Audrey Schwitzerlette, Business Editor Register-Herald
August 15, 2003
The unemployment rate in McDowell County for July exceeded the rate in every other county except Wirt, according to the state Bureau of Employment Programs.
Both McDowell and Wyoming counties reported significant increases in unemployment for the month. The Pinnacle No. 50 mine near Pineville, which employed miners from Wyoming, McDowell and surrounding counties, laid off more than 180 workers July 19. Unemployment rates also increased in nearby Raleigh, Boone and Logan counties.
But not every county in the region saw an increase in unemployment.
Three counties - Nicholas, Pocahontas and Summers - all showed decreasing rates in unemployment for the month.
Statewide, the unemployment rate rose 0.4 percentage point to 6.7 percent, with slightly more than three-fourths of the counties posting rising unemployment rates as well.
The number of counties reporting an unemployment rate considered much worse than average when compared to the state rate dropped slightly in July. They were Ritchie (11.1), Jackson (11.1), Pleasants (12.5), Mingo (13), Calhoun (13.9), Grant (14.1), Mason (15.7), McDowell (16) and Wirt (18.4).
The number of counties reporting an unemployment rate considered better than average rose slightly. They include Putnam (5.3), Kanawha (5.2), Doddridge (4.8), Monroe (4.7), Ohio (4.7), Hardy (4.1), Monongalia (3.6), Pendleton (3.6) and Jefferson (3.5).
At 2.9 percent, Morgan County was the sole county reporting an unemployment rate considered much better than average when compared to the state rate.
The following counties within The Register-Herald's coverage area reported these unemployment rates July:
- Fayette, with a labor force of 17,970, had 1,430 unemployed in July for a 7.9 percent unemployment rate, up from 7.4 percent in June.
- Greenbrier, with a labor force of 14,440, had 900 unemployed in July for a 6.2 percent unemployment rate, up from 5.6 percent in June.
- McDowell, with a labor force of 7,490, had 1,200 unemployed in July for a 16 percent unemployment rate, up from 13.7 in June.
- Mercer, with a labor force of 28,130, had 1,700 unemployed in July for a 6 percent unemployment rate, up from 5.7 percent in June.
- Monroe, with a labor force of 5,720, had 270 unemployed in July for a 4.7 percent unemployment rate - the region's lowest - but an increase from 3.6 percent in July.
- Nicholas, with a labor force of 11,070, had 850 unemployed in July for a 7.7 percent unemployment rate, down from 8.1 percent in June.
- Pocahontas, with a labor force of 4,400, had 300 unemployed in July for a 6.9 percent unemployment rate, down from 7.8 percent in June.
- Raleigh, with a labor force of 36,130, had 2,440 unemployed in July for a 6.8 percent unemployment rate, up from 5.7 percent in June.
- Summers, with a labor force of 4,640, had 290 unemployed in July for a 6.2 percent unemployment rate, down from 6.8 percent in June.
- Wyoming, with a labor force of 8,400, had 710 unemployed in July for an 8.4 percent unemployment rate, up from 6.9 in June.
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