TERMINOLOGY
Labor Force Estimates
are developed in strict compliance with procedures established by the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data from the Current Population
Survey, a monthly sample which includes about 1,190 West Virginia
households among the 73,000 sampled in the United States, are adjusted
through a time series model to minimize monthly fluctuation. Total Employment
estimates the number of West Virginia residents 16 and over who did any
work at all as paid employees, or who worked in their own business or
profession or on their own farm, or who worked 15 hours or more as
unpaid workers in a family-operated business, or who did not work but
had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily absent due to
illness, bad weather, vacation, labor management dispute, or personal
reasons, during the survey week (the week including the 12th of any
given month). Total employment includes West Virginia residents
who worked outside the borders of the state. An individual is
counted only once, however many jobs he or she may have. Unemployment includes
those who did not work during the survey week, and who were available
for work and actively seeking employment. The Civilian Labor Force is simply the
sum of employment and unemployment, while the Unemployment Rate is derived by
dividing unemployment by the civilian labor force.
Nonfarm Payroll
Employment (or
nonagricultural wage and salary employment) is essentially a count of
jobs--not individuals--by place of work. Current monthly
estimates are based on a voluntary sample of nearly 6,000 employing
establishments in West Virginia. These firms account for about
350,000 jobs, or more than half of the total. The sample-based
estimates are eventually adjusted to reflect the employment counts
submitted by employers with their quarterly unemployment insurance
contributions, when the latter become available. All of the
employment data in this publication have been subjected to this process
of revision and adjustment. Nonfarm payroll employment figures do
not include the self-employed, proprietors, unpaid family workers,
domestics in private households, or agricultural workers. No
distinction is made between full-time and part-time employment.
An individual holding jobs at two different firms is counted
twice. Persons idled for an entire pay period by layoff, labor
dispute, or unpaid leave are not counted. Comparable figures are
available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the United
States, all states, and most metropolitan areas.
Hours and Earnings
estimates are based entirely on the monthly voluntary sample of
employers, and are limited to production and nonsupervisory
workers. Earnings reflect gross hourly pay only, and do not
include any fringe benefits.
New Industrial
Classification
is in accordance with the North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS). Detailed industry series data below the ownership totals are
not comparable with publications prior to 2001, which were based on the
Standard
Industry Classification (SIC) system. NAICS was developed to provide a
consistent framework for industrial statistics in the US, Canada and
Mexico. Further information on NAICS definitions is available on
request.