West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced today that West Virginia’s job numbers are the best the state has seen in over a decade.
Its 2019 seasonally-adjusted annual average total employment—that is, the average number of West Virginians employed over the course of a year—was 759,000.
See: Workforce West Virginia Data 2019
The governor says that according to data from WorkForce West Virginia, this is the highest yearly average since 2008.
“This is something that all West Virginians should be proud of,” Justice said.
“What this all boils down to is that we just had our best year of job numbers in West Virginia in more than a decade."
In October 2019, West Virginia had its best single-month job total in 11 years, reaching 763,000 in total employment.
That figure has improved further since, reaching 765,500 in December 2019, he said.
In August 2019, West Virginia set yet another milestone at 4.6 percent unemployment—for the lowest rate seen in the state since 2008.
Steve Roberts, president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, attributes the growth in job creation to new economic policies.
“This impressive data proves that West Virginia is now creating jobs,” Roberts said.
“The economic policies that have been implemented to improve West Virginia are working. The reasons for optimism are clear," he said.
Roberts also said the positivity that has helped create these jobs must continue.
"West Virginians must proceed into the new decade of the 21st century with as much positivity as this report shows,” he said.
The governor says the state is enjoying a revolutionary period of growth, and citizens are justified in being proud.
“These incredible numbers are more evidence of what myself and a lot of others have been saying for over a year now—that West Virginia is truly experiencing a comeback story the likes of which we’ve never seen before,” he said.
To view available jobs in West Virginia, click HERE.
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