July 2025

Released August 19, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 6, rose in 15, and remained unchanged in 30.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Wyoming.

West Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In July, West Virginia lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia added 2,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia added 5,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. West Virginia is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, West Virginia’s private sector lost 1,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in West Virginia rose by 429, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,460.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 54.3 percent in July and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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West Virginia

Payroll employment

• West Virginia lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, West Virginia added 2,300 jobs. West Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. West Virginia is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• West Virginia lost 1,000 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,800 jobs. West Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 83,000 jobs in July, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2025 to July 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+600) and State and Local Government (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-900) and Manufacturing (-500).

From July 2024 to July 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+4,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,700) and Mining and Logging (-600).

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 remained unchanged at 54.3 percent in July.

• West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia was 55.1 percent occurring in February 2024, and the 10-year low was 52.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.2 percent in July.