3/2/2011
CHARLESTON, W.Va.-Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today issued a statement regarding monthly employment data reflecting seasonal job losses for January 2011, along with increases in year-to-year employment growth as compared to January 2010.
West Virginia’s January 2011 unemployment figures indicate a statewide decline in nonfarm employment of 18,300 jobs, raising the state’s unemployment rate to 10.3 percent. Unemployment data indicates the majority of the job losses are seasonal and found in the government, construction, trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality sectors. Government, specifically higher education institutions, accounted for almost one-third of the increase.
“The job losses reported in January were expected as data from previous years indicate unemployment rises during the winter months. For example, this rise was as high as 27,000 from December ‘08 to January ‘09,” Gov. Tomblin said. “While the expected job loss is not comforting to those seeking employment, the data also indicates nonfarm employment in January 2011 is higher, by 8,100 jobs, when compared to the same time period for the previous year. These year-to-year gains are in the professional and business services, mining and logging, manufacturing, trade transportation and utilities, as well as leisure and hospitality and educational and health services. On the plus side, these employment gains indicate our economy is recovering from the global recession and growth is seen as steady.”
Contact Information
Jacqueline Proctor
(304) 558-2000