Unemployment Rate in West Virginia

ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

Unemployment Rate
5.4% +1.9% vs nat'l
Rank #38 of 52
27th %ile

How West Virginia Compares

West Virginia
5.4%
National
5.3%
1.9% above

State Ranking

Rank State Value
#35 Texas 5.2%
#36 Pennsylvania 5.2%
#37 Oregon 5.3%
#38 West Virginia 5.4%
#39 Alaska 5.5%
#40 Connecticut 5.6%
#41 Michigan 5.7%
View full state ranking →

Highest Unemployment Counties in West Virginia

# County Unemployment
1 Summers County 2.2%
2 Ritchie County 2.4%
3 Mercer County 2.6%
4 Putnam County 3.1%
5 Grant County 3.3%
6 Mason County 3.8%
7 Jefferson County 3.8%
8 Morgan County 3.9%
9 Harrison County 4.0%
10 Greenbrier County 4.2%

Lowest Unemployment Counties in West Virginia

# County Unemployment
55 Pocahontas County 11.8%
54 Clay County 11.7%
53 Mingo County 11.5%
52 Braxton County 9.3%
51 Webster County 9.2%
50 Hampshire County 9.0%
49 Roane County 8.9%
48 Calhoun County 8.9%
47 Boone County 8.8%
46 Lewis County 8.6%

Unemployment Rate in West Virginia

West Virginia has a unemployment rate of 5.4%, ranking #38 of 52 among all 52 states and territories. This is 1.9% above the national value of 5.3%.

Across West Virginia's 55 counties, unemployment rate ranges from 11.8% to 2.2%. The county with the highest value is Summers County at 2.2%.

Percentage of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.

About this data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). All values are estimates derived from survey samples and are subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.