January 25, 2022
Summary
West Virginia added 5,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage point to 3.7 percent in December, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released at 10:00am on January 25, 2022.
Over the past twelve months, West Virginia added 28,300 payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 3 percentage points from 6.7 percent.
In December, West Virginia’s private sector added 4,700 net private payroll jobs and over the past twelve months it added 24,300 private payroll jobs in the establishment survey.
In the household survey, the number of unemployed fell by 2,704 on net in December, and over the past year employment rose by 18,088.
West Virginia’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 55.1 percent in December . Since last year, the labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage point.
The national unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage point in December to 3.9 percent. State employment and unemployment data for January is scheduled for release March 14, 2022. The national employment situation report for January will be released February 04, 2022.
West Virginia Payroll Employment
West Virginia added 5,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.8 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, West Virginia added 2,300 jobs. Over the past twelve months, West Virginia added 28,300 payroll jobs, or 4.2 percent. West Virginia nonfarm payroll employment had increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 199,000 in December, or rose by 0.1 percent. Over the 12-month period ending with December, nonfarm payrolls rose by 6,448,000 jobs, or 4.5 percent. West Virginia ranks 21st among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
During December, West Virginia’s private-sector added 4,700 jobs, or approximately 0.9 percent. The private-sector in West Virginia added 2,600 jobs in the prior month. Over the past twelve months, private-sector payrolls in West Virginia added 24,300, or 4.6 percent. West Virginia private-sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private-sector payroll jobs rose by 211,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Over the past 12 months, the national payroll rose by 5,996,000 jobs in the private sector, or 5 percent. West Virginia ranks 21st among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a percentage gain in private-sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Construction (1,500) and Education and Health Services (1,100). The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-100) and Other Services (-200).
The best performing sectors during the last twelve months were Leisure and Hospitality (8,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (6,200). The poorest performing sectors during the last twelve months were Information (-300) and Financial Activities (-300).
West Virginia Labor Force Statistics
Labor Force Participation
The labor force participation rate in West Virginia remained unchanged at 55.1 percent in December . At a labor force participation rate of 55.1 percent, West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation. The labor force participation rate in West Virginia fell by 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia was 55.7 percent last occurring in March 2020. The series high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia occurred in May 2009 when the labor force participation rate hit 56.2 percent. The 10-year low for the labor force participation rate was 53.1 percent , last occurring in October 2016. The series low for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia last occurred in July 1987 when the labor force participation rate hit 51 percent.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.9 percent in December. That rate rose by 0.4 percentage point from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national labor force participation rate was 67.3 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national labor force participation rate was 63.8 percent in October 2012. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 60.2 percent. The series low for the national labor force participation rate was 58.1 percent in December 1954.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
The employment-to-population ratio, or the percentage of the West Virginia civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and older counted as employed, in December rose to 53 from 52.9 percent in the prior month. At 53 percent, West Virginia ranks 50th among state employment-to-population ratios in the nation. The employment-to-population ratio in West Virginia rose by 1.4 percentage points from a year earlier.
The 10-year high for the employment-to-population ratio in West Virginia was 53 percent in December 2021. The series high for the employment-to-population ratio in West Virginia last occurred in June 2008 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 53.2 percent. The 10-year low for the employment-to-population ratio was 44.9 percent in April 2020. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio in West Virginia last occurred in April 1983 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 42.4 percent.
The national employment-to-population ratio rose by 0.2 percentage point over the month to 59.5 percent in December. That rate rose by 2.1 percentage points from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national employment-to-population rato was 64.7 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national employment-to-population ratio was 61.2 percent in February 2020. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 51.3 percent. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio was 51.3 percent in April 2020.