Counties with the highest unemployment in West Virginia

Written by:
Stacker
May 31, 2024
Canva

Counties with the highest unemployment in West Virginia

Despite a relatively low unemployment rate just shy of 4%, as compared to the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in West Virginia using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in April 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Economists forecast a waning risk of recession and predict that the U.S. may instead be headed for an incremental slowdown in growth known as a "soft landing." Still, layoffs among major U.S. employers like Amazon to Tesla have sparked concern among Americans. What's more, unemployment has spiked in nearly half the country's states, which often indicates a looming recession, an economist told Business Insider. And with sky-high prices after a period of record inflation, savings and unemployment payments may not cover basic expenses for jobless Americans for long.

For comparison, the Great Recession of 2007-09 sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.

Still, as of April 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.9%—little changed from the previous month. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state vary, ranging from just 2% in North Dakota to 5.3% in California.

Read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in West Virginia.

1 / 55
Canva

#55. Jefferson County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 31,054 people (749 unemployed)

2 / 55
Bob Couperthwaite // Shutterstock

#54. Hampshire County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,080 people (284 unemployed)

3 / 55
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#53. Pendleton County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,703 people (105 unemployed)

4 / 55
Matt Levi Media // Shutterstock

#52. Morgan County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,408 people (247 unemployed)

5 / 55
Canva

#51. Monongalia County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 55,765 people (1,598 unemployed)

6 / 55
The American Explorer // Shutterstock

#50. Monroe County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,921 people (182 unemployed)

7 / 55
Angel Cochran // Shutterstock

#49. Putnam County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,080 people (854 unemployed)

8 / 55
Canva

#48. Tucker County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,564 people (117 unemployed)

9 / 55
Canva

#47. Harrison County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 34,797 people (1,132 unemployed)

10 / 55
Byron Key // Shutterstock

#46. Berkeley County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 58,339 people (1,912 unemployed)

11 / 55
Kenneth Keifer // Shutterstock

#45. Doddridge County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,716 people (129 unemployed)

12 / 55
Canva

#44. Ohio County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 20,169 people (708 unemployed)

13 / 55
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#43. Raleigh County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,150 people (1,067 unemployed)

14 / 55
Dee Browning // Shutterstock

#42. Cabell County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 41,750 people (1,451 unemployed)

15 / 55
Canva

#41. Kanawha County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 82,300 people (2,935 unemployed)

16 / 55
mzglass96 // Shutterstock

#40. Grant County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,954 people (218 unemployed)

17 / 55
Steve Heap // Shutterstock

#39. Taylor County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,967 people (295 unemployed)

18 / 55
Dennis Ray Dennison II // Shutterstock

#38. Mineral County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 12,142 people (452 unemployed)

19 / 55
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#37. Greenbrier County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,347 people (549 unemployed)

20 / 55
Canva

#36. Marion County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,070 people (941 unemployed)

21 / 55
Canva

#35. Summers County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,413 people (174 unemployed)

22 / 55
Canva

#34. Preston County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,441 people (604 unemployed)

23 / 55
Canva

#33. Wyoming County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,214 people (292 unemployed)

24 / 55
Rosemarie Mosteller // Shutterstock

#32. Mason County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,198 people (404 unemployed)

25 / 55
Canva

#31. Wood County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 36,808 people (1,464 unemployed)

26 / 55
Canva

#30. Boone County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,273 people (299 unemployed)

27 / 55
JNix // Shutterstock

#29. Jackson County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,841 people (482 unemployed)

28 / 55
Canva

#28. Wayne County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,713 people (637 unemployed)

29 / 55
Canva

#27. Fayette County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,933 people (673 unemployed)

30 / 55
Jay Wiberg // Shutterstock

#26. Logan County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,802 people (464 unemployed)

31 / 55
Claire Salvail Photos // Shutterstock

#25. Mercer County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,754 people (892 unemployed)

32 / 55
Nicole Glass Photography // Shutterstock

#24. Hardy County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,706 people (250 unemployed)

33 / 55
Canva

#23. Marshall County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,232 people (600 unemployed)

34 / 55
Canva

#22. Lincoln County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,088 people (326 unemployed)

35 / 55
Gage Goulding // Shutterstock

#21. Brooke County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,570 people (440 unemployed)

36 / 55
Canva

#20. Barbour County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,988 people (325 unemployed)

37 / 55
Steve Heap // Shutterstock

#19. Upshur County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,926 people (465 unemployed)

38 / 55
Canva

#18. Ritchie County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,803 people (181 unemployed)

39 / 55
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#17. Lewis County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,179 people (302 unemployed)

40 / 55
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#16. Nicholas County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,992 people (450 unemployed)

41 / 55
Jerry Sharp // Shutterstock

#15. Hancock County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,693 people (630 unemployed)

42 / 55
Canva

#14. Randolph County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,644 people (603 unemployed)

43 / 55
Kenneth Keifer // Shutterstock

#13. Wetzel County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 2.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 6,414 people (356 unemployed)

44 / 55
Canva

#12. Mingo County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,561 people (365 unemployed)

45 / 55
The Old Major // Shutterstock

#11. Gilmer County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 2.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,273 people (130 unemployed)

46 / 55
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#10. Braxton County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,991 people (295 unemployed)

47 / 55
Canva

#9. Pleasants County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,609 people (157 unemployed)

48 / 55
Canva

#8. Tyler County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,875 people (174 unemployed)

49 / 55
Canva

#7. Wirt County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,254 people (142 unemployed)

50 / 55
Canva

#6. Roane County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,018 people (328 unemployed)

51 / 55
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#5. Clay County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,057 people (202 unemployed)

52 / 55
Canva

#4. Pocahontas County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 2.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,564 people (247 unemployed)

53 / 55
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#3. Webster County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,890 people (209 unemployed)

54 / 55
Canva

#2. McDowell County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,036 people (293 unemployed)

55 / 55
Canva

#1. Calhoun County

- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 3.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 3.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,415 people (214 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

Trending Now