Counties with the highest unemployment in West Virginia

The first jobs report fully under the new Trump administration showed a softening job market, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.1% in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released March 7.

Job growth increased but fell below expectations, one of several possible fissures appearing in the once rock-solid labor market. Businesses are pulling back on hiring as the economic forecast and policy outlook grow murkier due to volatile trade policies and large cuts to the federal workforce.

Federal government employment fell by 10,000 in February, pushing up total cuts to the federal workforce. In the first two months of 2025, 62,530 federal workers were let go. However, the most recent cuts, including the Department of Education's workforce getting slashed by nearly half, have not yet appeared in official jobs data. Retail employment also fell by 6,000.

The broader unemployment index, known as the U-6, which also includes laborers working part-time because they can't find full-time work, and those who want to work but have given up searching, rose to 8%, its highest since October 2021.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in West Virginia, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in January 2025, 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.

Key takeaways: Jobs report shows softening labor market

February's job growth of 151,000 fell below economists' expected gains of 160,000, showing the labor market is cooling faster than predicted. Experts say many companies weighing policy changes and economic uncertainty are deciding it's safer to hold off on hiring decisions for now.

"If you were a company and you were saying, 'I'm looking to expand, or I'm looking to hire,' you would have investors in those companies saying, 'Are you crazy?'" Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast, told Marketplace.

Consumer spending fell in January for the first time in two years, which may have led to layoffs or hiring slowdowns, Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist, told NBC News.

The big story: From bold promises to frozen labor market

After an initial market pop following Trump's electoral win, indexes have slumped to below when he took office, and uncertainty about the future of the markets is a common theme. Are threatened tariffs in place, delayed, reversed, or ramped up? Has that federal worker been fired or given their job back? Are those federal dollars slashed or reinstated? It's a question mark that changes daily.

Research shows that uncertainty invites lower investment, slows employment, and increases financial market volatility. The word "uncertain" showed up 47 times in the March edition of the Beige Book, the Federal Reserve's snapshot of reports from across the nation, compared to 17 times in the previous report from January.

The new administration's blitz of executive orders and trade policy waffling have cast a dense fog over the short-term economic outlook. One thing that is known? Uncertainty isn't good for business planning, job creation, or hiring.

In a March 12 interview with Semafor, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon noted that average consumers likely don't change "what they're going to do because they read about tariffs," but "companies might."

"Uncertainty is not a good thing," Dimon added.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in West Virginia.

50. Pendleton County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,076 people (110 unemployed)

49. Putnam County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,626 people (1,008 unemployed)

48. Cabell County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 41,545 people (1,613 unemployed)

46. Hardy County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,648 people (317 unemployed)

46. Tucker County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,414 people (139 unemployed)

43. Ohio County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,107 people (762 unemployed)

43. Harrison County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,802 people (1,290 unemployed)

43. Kanawha County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 78,908 people (3,335 unemployed)

39. Pocahontas County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,450 people (149 unemployed)

39. Mercer County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,075 people (1,002 unemployed)

39. Raleigh County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,360 people (1,277 unemployed)

39. Marion County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,489 people (1,095 unemployed)

36. Monroe County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,109 people (231 unemployed)

36. Logan County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,227 people (548 unemployed)

36. Taylor County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,338 people (332 unemployed)

34. Mason County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,187 people (512 unemployed)

34. Mineral County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,355 people (568 unemployed)

33. Greenbrier County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,385 people (675 unemployed)

29. Wyoming County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,924 people (331 unemployed)

29. Wayne County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,774 people (709 unemployed)

29. Preston County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,070 people (669 unemployed)

29. Wood County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 36,581 people (1,774 unemployed)

24. Summers County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,931 people (200 unemployed)

24. Boone County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,175 people (364 unemployed)

24. Marshall County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,879 people (654 unemployed)

24. Grant County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,474 people (277 unemployed)

24. Fayette County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,698 people (798 unemployed)

21. Brooke County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,382 people (489 unemployed)

21. Doddridge County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +2.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,871 people (150 unemployed)

21. Upshur County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,476 people (544 unemployed)

20. Nicholas County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,484 people (508 unemployed)

18. Barbour County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,584 people (369 unemployed)

18. Lewis County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,373 people (356 unemployed)

17. Hancock County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,544 people (709 unemployed)

15. Lincoln County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,240 people (417 unemployed)

15. Mingo County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,626 people (387 unemployed)

13. Pleasants County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,113 people (188 unemployed)

13. Webster County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,101 people (187 unemployed)

11. Gilmer County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,376 people (147 unemployed)

11. Randolph County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,308 people (634 unemployed)

10. Jackson County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
--- 1-month change: +2.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,829 people (627 unemployed)

9. Tyler County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,791 people (181 unemployed)

8. Ritchie County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.4%
--- 1-month change: +2.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,313 people (246 unemployed)

7. Wirt County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.7%
--- 1-month change: +2.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,020 people (156 unemployed)

6. Wetzel County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.9%
--- 1-month change: +2.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,425 people (428 unemployed)

5. Braxton County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 8%
--- 1-month change: +2.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,833 people (385 unemployed)

4. McDowell County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,518 people (286 unemployed)

3. Roane County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.7%
--- 1-month change: +2.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,012 people (436 unemployed)

2. Clay County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.6%
--- 1-month change: +3.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,637 people (253 unemployed)

1. Calhoun County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 10.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,626 people (285 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.