West Virginia’s unemployment rate hit 6.4% among residents aged 16 and 65 years old in 2021. That’s 50,277 people out of the 1,801,049 living in West Virginia at the time, according to data U.S. Census Bureau data obtained on Oct. 26, 2023.
The unemployment rate in West Virginia has decreased compared to the 6.5% registered in 2020.
The percentage of people unemployed in West Virginia was greater than the national unemployment rate of 5.5%.
Of the 738,156 people who had a job during that time, 2,068 were employed in the Armed Forces and 736,088 belonged to the civilian labor force.
Employment Status in West Virginia During 2021
| Employment status | Number of people | Percentage of population |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployed | 50,277 | 6.4% |
| Employed | 738,156 | 93.6% |
| Employed in civilian labor force | 736,088 | 93.4% |
| Employed in armed forces | 2,068 | 0.3% |
