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West Virginia

aerial view of West Virginia

Total payroll employment in West Virginia declined by 300 jobs (0.0 percent) in July. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent.

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Labor Market Conditions

"West Virginia's labor market was little changed in July. Payroll employment contracted slightly and the unemployment rate held at 3.7 percent in the month." – Joseph Mengedoth
Payroll employment declined by 300 jobs (0.0 percent), on net, in July. The only sectors to add jobs in the month were government (700 jobs), construction (600 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (400 jobs), and "other" services (100 jobs). Those gains were slightly more than offset by declines in most of the remaining sectors.
On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment in West Virginia increased by 5,100 jobs (0.7 percent), on net. Since last July, the most jobs were added in education and health services (2,100 jobs) and construction (4,100 jobs).
The unemployment rate in West Virginia was unchanged at 3.7 percent in July and remains 0.4 percentage point lower compared to the same month last year.

Housing Market Conditions

In West Virginia, the number of residential permits issued increased 19.6 percent in July 2025 compared to June 2025. Compared to July 2024, the number of permits issued increased 12.4 percent.
According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values appreciated 0.5 percent in Q2 of 2025 compared to Q1 of 2025. Home values grew by 3.3 percent in Q2 of 2025 compared to Q2 of 2024.

Snapshot Resources

Term Definitions

Payroll Employment
The number of nonfarm jobs (persons on payrolls) according to where those jobs are located.
Unemployment Rate
The number of unemployed persons (those not employed but available and searching for work) as a percent of the civilian labor force (the total number of employed plus unemployed persons).
Industry Structure
A breakdown of total nonfarm jobs by industry. Percentages sum to 100 percent.
Industry Growth
The percentage change in jobs in each industry from a year ago.
Building Permits
The number of privately owned single-family and multi-family units authorized in permit-issuing places.
House Price Index
A repeat sales index, measuring average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings on the same single-family properties.

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Joseph Mengedoth