December 2024

Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

West Virginia Employment Snapshot

• In December, West Virginia lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia added 2,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 4.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. West Virginia ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, West Virginia’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in West Virginia fell by 1,004, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,489.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 54.8 percent in December from 54.9 percent and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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West Virginia Payroll Employment

• West Virginia lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, West Virginia added 2,200 jobs. West Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. West Virginia ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• West Virginia added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,300 jobs. West Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. West Virginia is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Leisure and Hospitality (200) and Other Services (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (5,100) and Mining and Logging (1,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-1,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,800).

West Virginia Labor Force

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 labor force participation rate in West Virginia fell to 54.8 percent in December from 54.9 percent in the prior month.

• West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia was 55.3 percent in January 2024, and the 10-year low was 52.6 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.