June 2025 | Released July 18, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 11, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 33.

• 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 fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Alaska. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Rhode Island.

West Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In June, West Virginia added 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia added 2,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia added 4,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, West Virginia’s private sector added 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in West Virginia fell by 70, and over the past 12 months it fell by 5,772.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 54.2 percent in June from 54.3 percent and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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West Virginia

Payroll employment

• West Virginia added 1,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, West Virginia added 2,100 jobs. West Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• West Virginia added 1,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. 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 74,000 jobs in June, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2025 to June 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-700) and Manufacturing (-300).

From June 2024 to June 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+3,000) and Construction (+2,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900).

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 54.2 percent in June from 54.3 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 55.1 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 62.3 percent in June.