Disappointing Job Trends Continue in May – West Virginia saw its total nonfarm employment fall for the fourth straight month, losing 1,900 jobs between April and May. Although monthly losses have not been as large as at the beginning of 2009, a similar pattern seems to be emerging. Nonfarm employment remains below its prerecession level. In addition, the unemployment rate rose slightly to 6.9 percent, the first increase in this figure in seven months. Read
A larger percentage of West Virginia residents over the age of 65 — the traditional retirement age — are remaining in their jobs and delaying retirement. The percentage grew from 9.0 percent in 2006 to a record high 13.9 percent in 2010, before falling slightly to 13.2 percent in 2011. Although the number of seniors working past retirement age spiked during the recession, the increase is part of a longer term trend in West Virginia.
