May 2025 | Released June 24, 2025

Download the full PDF for West Virginia

Download the summary PDF for West Virginia

United States Employment Snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.

West Virginia Employment Snapshot

• In May, West Virginia added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia added 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia lost 9,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, West Virginia’s private sector added 1,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia added 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in West Virginia fell by 292, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,174.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 54.3 percent in May and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

---

West Virginia Payroll Employment

• West Virginia added 700 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, West Virginia added 400 jobs. West Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• West Virginia added 1,000 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, West Virginia added 100 jobs. West Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 38th 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 May were Other Services (500) and Construction (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-300) and Manufacturing (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (3,600) and Construction (2,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,700) and Government (-11,400).

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 May.

• 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 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.