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West Virginia

aerial view of West Virginia

Total payroll employment in West Virginia increased by 700 jobs (0.1 percent) in May. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8 percent.

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Labor Market Conditions

"West Virginia's labor market improved slightly in May as payroll employment increased modestly and the unemployment rate held at 3.8 percent in the month." – Joseph Mengedoth
Total payroll employment increased by 700 jobs (0.1 percent), on net, in May. The majority of industries reported small job gains in the month but were partially offset by job losses of 400 and 300 in the manufacturing and government sectors, respectively.
On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment in West Virginia declined by 9,400 jobs (1.3 percent), on net. Since last May, the government sector shed the largest number of jobs (11,400 jobs), followed by leisure and hospitality (1,700 jobs).
The unemployment rate in West Virginia was unchanged at 3.8 percent in May.

Housing Market Conditions

In West Virginia the number of residential permits issued increased 3.4 percent in May 2025 compared to April 2025. Compared to May 2024, the number of permits issued increased 3.1 percent.
According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values depreciated 1.0 percent in Q1 of 2025 compared to Q4 of 2024. Home values grew by 6.4 percent in Q1 of 2025 compared to Q1 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