Jobless Rate Dips

Unemployment rates dropped in 51 of West Virginia’s 55 counties in October. WorkForce West Virginia says Jefferson County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.2 percent, followed by Monongalia County at 3.9 percent, and Berkeley and Hampshire counties each at 4 percent. Unemployment rates rose in Boone, Calhoun, Pendleton and Pocahontas counties. Mingo County’s unemployment rate was the highest in the state at 12 percent, down seven-tenths of a percentage point from September. It was followed by McDowell County at 10.9 percent and Logan County at 10.3 percent. West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped four-tenths of a percentage point to 6.9 percent in October.