Payroll
Employment,
Unemployment, and
Hours and Earnings in West Virginia
December 2011
Total
Nonfarm Payroll Employment Total nonfarm payroll
employment fell 3,600 over the month of December 2011 to a level of
761,200. The goods-producing sector declined 4,100, with losses of
2,900 in construction, 800 in mining and logging, and 400 in
manufacturing. The service-providing sector added 500 jobs, with gains
of 500 in educational and health services, 300 in professional and
business services, 300 in financial activities, and 200 in other
services. Employment declines included 300 in government, 200 in trade,
transportation, and activities, 200 in information, and 100 in leisure
and hospitality.
Since December 2010, the number of payroll jobs in West Virginia has
risen 10,100. The goods-producing sector added 4,700 jobs, with gains
of 3,100 in construction, 1,400 in mining and logging, and 200 in
manufacturing. The service-providing sector added 5,400 jobs, with
gains of 4,000 in educational and health services, 2,300 in
professional and business services, 700 in trade, transportation, and
utilities, 400 in other services, 200 in leisure and hospitality, and
100 in information. Employment declines included 2,100 in government
and 200 in financial activities.
Unemployment The number of unemployed state residents rose
4,800 to 59,600 in December 2011. The corresponding unemployment rate
climbed six-tenths of a percentage point to 7.7 percent of the civilian
labor force. Total unemployment fell 13,400 from December 2010, when
the rate was 9.4 percent and 73,000 were jobless. The state’s
seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 7.9 percent, while
the national rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.5
percent.
Hours and Earnings Earnings for private sector production and
nonsupervisory workers averaged $16.55 in December, up nine cents from
the previous month. Hourly earnings were up 23 cents over the year.
Average weekly earnings declined 27 cents in December to $556.08, and
were down 43 cents from the previous December. Average weekly hours
were down over the month as well as over the year.