Payroll
Employment,
Unemployment, and
Hours and Earnings in West Virginia
May 2010
Nonfarm
Payroll Employment: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose 9,300
over the month of May 2010 to a level of 747,300. The goods-producing
sector added 2,400 jobs, the bulk of these attributed to a seasonal
gain of 2,200 in construction. Other gains included 100 in mining and
logging and 100 in manufacturing. The service-providing sector added
6,900 jobs, where an increase of 3,000 in government can be attributed
almost entirely to the addition of federal census workers to the
workforce. Other employment gains included 2,600 in leisure and
hospitality, 900 in other services, 400 in educational and health
services, 300 in information, and 300 in trade, transportation, and
utilities. Employment declines included 300 in professional and
business services and 300 in financial activities.
Since May 2009, total nonfarm payroll employment has fallen 3,800, with
losses of 2,700 in the goods-producing sector and 1,100 in the
service-providing sector. All major goods-producing industries
experienced declines, including 1,200 in mining and logging, 1,100 in
manufacturing, and 400 in construction. A small number of
service-providing industries experienced growth, including 2,600 in
government, 1,200 in educational and health services, and 1,000 in
other services. Employment declines included 2,800 in trade,
transportation, and utilities, 1,300 in financial activities, 800 in
professional and business services, 700 in leisure and hospitality, and
300 in information.
Unemployment: The number of unemployed state residents declined
1,200 to 67,700 in May. The corresponding unemployment rate dropped
two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.6 percent of the civilian labor
force. Total unemployment has risen 4,200 since May 20009, when the
rate was 7.9 percent and 63,500 were jobless. The state's seasonally
adjusted unemployment rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point to
8.9 percent, while the national rate declined two-tenths of a
percentage point to 9.7 percent.
Hours and Earnings: Earnings for private sector production and
nonsupervisory workers averaged $15.98 in May, up one cent from the
previous month. Hourly earnings were up 43 cents over the year. Average
weekly earnings rose $5.14 in May 2010 to $557.70, and increased $19.67
from the previous May. Average weekly hours were up slightly over the
month as well as over the year.