Counties with the highest unemployment in West Virginia

In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, 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 October 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.

Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS. 

In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses. 

The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.

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

#25. Lewis County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,037 people (253 unemployed)

#24. Barbour County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,050 people (299 unemployed)

#23. Mason County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,328 people (434 unemployed)

#22. Randolph County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 11,662 people (487 unemployed)

#21. Mercer County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,799 people (869 unemployed)

#20. Wirt County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,252 people (96 unemployed)

#19. Lincoln County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,994 people (307 unemployed)

#18. Boone County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,296 people (318 unemployed)

#17. Nicholas County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,041 people (403 unemployed)

#16. Upshur County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,806 people (442 unemployed)

#15. Ritchie County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,786 people (173 unemployed)

#14. Webster County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,977 people (139 unemployed)

#13. Logan County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,861 people (511 unemployed)

#12. Wetzel County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,319 people (316 unemployed)

#11. Brooke County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 9,667 people (497 unemployed)

#10. Pleasants County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,649 people (138 unemployed)

#9. Tyler County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,825 people (147 unemployed)

#8. Gilmer County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,322 people (123 unemployed)

#7. Clay County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,036 people (162 unemployed)

#6. Roane County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,999 people (272 unemployed)

#5. Braxton County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,073 people (273 unemployed)

#4. Hancock County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,755 people (688 unemployed)

#3. Mingo County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,712 people (373 unemployed)

#2. Calhoun County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,358 people (158 unemployed)

#1. McDowell County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,034 people (284 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.