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CHARLESTON -- West Virginia's unemployment rate continued to drop in November, though the slight decrease shows that some sectors of the state's economy continue to suffer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a monthly report released by WorkForce West Virginia on Wednesday, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 6.2 percent, a slight decrease from 6.4 percent in October. West Virginia's unemployment rate was better than the U.S. average at 6.7 percent for November.
"This marks the seventh consecutive month that our employment rate has gone down," said Gov. Jim Justice during his mid-week coronavirus update, Wednesday.
Total unemployment decreased by 1,600, from 49,200 to 47,600, with a total employment increase by 6,400, from 715,700 to 722,100. The civilian labor force increased by 4,800, from 764,900 in October to 769,700 in November.
The state's unemployment rate has recovered quickly since March and April when the economy was shut down and people were ordered to stay at home in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The state's unemployment rate in February was 4.9 percent, increasing to 6 percent in March and 15.9 percent in April.
West Virginia's November unemployment rate was buoyed by increased employment in leisure and hospitality, such as restaurants and hotels. But the state's slowdown in coal mining and natural gas production due to unseasonably warm temperatures has dampened employment in construction and mining.
"Within the goods-producing sector, employment decreased 700 in construction and 300 in mining and logging. Employment increased 200 in manufacturing," according to the report. "Within the service-providing sector, employment gains included 1,100 in leisure and hospitality, 1,000 in education and health services, 400 in government, and 200 in financial activities. Employment declines included 2,000 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 300 in other services, and 100 in information."
After the Department of Health and Human Resources reported the state's first positive coronavirus case on March 17, Justice ordered all restaurants and bars closed except for carry-out or drive-through. That order was followed on March 18 with the closure of gyms and recreational facilities. Barbershops, hair salons and nail salons were closed March 19.
By March 23, Justice issued a stay-at-home order that limited nonessential travel except for medical needs, groceries and supplies and travel to work. Nonessential businesses were either closed, or employees had to work from home when possible.
By the end of April, the stay-at-home order was replaced with a "safer-at-home" order encouraging residents to remain at home when possible. Businesses and services were allowed to reopen in phases and with restrictions to limit spread of COVID-19, such as limits on capacity, additional cleaning requirements and the wearing of masks or face coverings.
(Adams can be contacted at sadams@newsandsentinel.com)