United States Employment Snapshot



West Virginia Employment Snapshot




West Virginia Payroll Employment


  • West Virginia lost 1,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, West Virginia added 4,200 jobs. West Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

  • Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

  • West Virginia lost 600 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, West Virginia added 3,500 jobs. West Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

  • Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. West Virginia is tied for 42nd 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 March were Leisure and Hospitality (1,100) and Manufacturing (200).

  • The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-900).

  • The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (4,300) and Construction (400).

  • The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-1,700) and Government (-2,500).



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.