Jobless Rate Dips

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped in September. WorkForce West Virginia says the rate fell three-tenths of a percentage point to 7.3 percent last month. Employment rose by 1,600 in the service-providing sector, including 3,300 in government, 1,000 in trade, transportation and utilities, and 300 in financial services. Declines included 1,100 in professional and business services, 700 in educational and health services, and 600 in both leisure and hospitality and other services. In the goods-producing sector, employment fell by 300 in mining and logging and rose by 300 in manufacturing. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent in September.