By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s labor force participation rate peaked at 55% following an extreme drop following the COVID-19 pandemic, but a steady drop in both labor force participation and increases in unemployment caused the leader of the state’s business community to raise alarms.
In a press release Monday, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce President Steve Roberts cited the latest employment and hiring numbers released last week by WorkForce West Virginia showing a decrease in civilian workforce numbers.
“These numbers are troubling,” Roberts said. “We’re seeing consistent signs of economic softening across several core industries. When the workforce is shrinking and job losses are sustained over time, we must treat it as a warning sign, and we must respond with urgency.”
According to WorkForce West Virginia, the state’s seasonally adjusted labor force participation dropped by 7,600 workers, from 787,600 in July 2024 to 780,000 last month. Civilian labor force numbers measure the total number of people age 16 and older who are either employed or seeking employment. Seasonally adjusted numbers take into account predictable fluctuations in employment.
