POST Online Media Lite Edition



 

West Virginia again breaks record for lowest unemployment rate in state history

Christian Fernsby |
Governor Jim Justice announced that West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.7% for December 2021; breaking the all-time record for the lowest unemployment rate recorded in state history for the 3rd consecutive month.

Article continues below



Topics: WEST VIRGINIA   

December’s rate of 3.7% bested the previous state record of 4.0%, set just one month prior in November 2021.

“When you think about what we’ve accomplished over the past three months with our unemployment rate, it’s unbelievable,” Governor Justice said. “We shattered the all-time record. Then we came back and did it again the next month. And now we’ve shattered it all over again this month.

“We’ve broken the state record every month for a quarter of a year now,” Governor Justice continued. “This is no fluke. This proves, without a shadow of doubt, that the rocket ship ride I promised is real and it’s happening.”

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has now decreased for 20 straight

onths. For the 10th straight month, West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains better than the national unemployment rate. The number of unemployed state residents decreased by 2,700 in December, while total employment grew 1,600 over the month.

“We are consistently raising the bar in West Virginia and I couldn’t be more proud,” Governor Justice said. “In addition to our unemployment rate getting better and better, our revenue numbers are getting higher and higher, more and more people are visiting West Virginia, and business after business is moving in or expanding in our great state. Who wouldn’t want to be in West Virginia right now? We are on an absolute roll.

“I thank everyone who has played a part to get us to this point, but we can’t afford to slow down and be content with what we’ve achieved already. We’re going to keep working everyday to make our state the very best it can be.”

After inheriting a $500 million budget deficit, Governor Justice has led the state to a string of consistent budget surpluses by using his lifelong experience as a businessman to make West Virginia a more business-friendly state and by standing behind the energy industry. Last month, West Virginia recorded a $124.4 million revenue surplus, bringing the total fiscal year surplus to $393.9 million in just six months.

From April 2010 to July 2019, more than 43,000 people moved out of the state. However, from 2020 through 2021, net migration is up in West Virginia for the first time in decades, with over 2,000 people moving into our state, making West Virginia one of the top states in the entire nation that people are moving into on a percentage basis.

West Virginia is finally competing on the world stage and recruiting world-class companies to the state.

Additionally, the Governor’s Roads to Prosperity program is the state’s largest-ever investment in road maintenance and improvement; after 50 years of neglecting its roads, the state has committed more than $2 billion dollars to fixing them.

Teachers and state employees have received their two largest pay raises ever, and a third pay raise has been proposed. The state’s Rainy Day Fund now exceeds $1 billion – another record – and its public pension funds are better-funded than they have been in decades. Thanks to Governor Justice, Veterans now live in West Virginia tax-free and senior citizens do not face state taxes on social security.

Additionally, increased investments in the state’s tourism efforts have visitation and intrigue in West Virginia through the roof.


What to read next

Virginia’s unemployment rate drops to 3.4%
Dutch unemployment falling further
Huge difference: Unemployment rates in EU ranged from 1.3% to 35.1%

AgriAmerica expanding in Chautauqua County, will create 469 jobs

 
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that AgriAmerica Fruit Products has completed the revitalization and upgrade of a 69,000-square-foot grape juice processing facility located at 200 Water Street in the Village of Fredonia.
 
 

Latest

Rig count stabilizes amid oil price recovery
Lower or same benefits enable faster job change in Germany
Peru court jails ex-President Humala for money laundering
€400 million Spanish State aid scheme to support renewable hydrogen production

NEWS

Bosnia risks air traffic shutdown over unpaid debt

Active weather in Eastern U.S.; warm weather and critical fire weather across portions of West
Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, five others killed in Hudson River copter crash
U.S.: Significant severe weather and life threatening flash flooding
More than 300 arrests as African countries clamp down on cyber threats
U.S.: Winter hazards across north; heavy rainfall in south
 

BUSINESS

38 tunnel breakthroughs of Malaysia's mega railway project completed ahead of schedule

ESA asks Iceland to align customs tariff classification of ‘pizza cheese’ with EEA rules
EIB and EIF unveil €3.6 billion financing package to boost clean transport, energy, automotive innovation
Baker Hughes: U.S. oil rig count down by 9 to 480
South Korea on course to conclude negotiations on Czech nuclear power plant project
EU imports of rare earth elements saw 30% drop in 2024
 

Trending Now

AgriAmerica expanding in Chautauqua County, will create 469 jobs

Rig count stabilizes amid oil price recovery

EIB and EIF unveil €3.6 billion financing package to boost clean transport, energy, automotive innovation

International Paper in talks to divest five plants in Europe


POLITICS

Viking CCS pipeline development granted consent decision

Egypt, France sign 7bln euro deal for green hydrogen complex on Red Sea
Maryland Governor to lead international trade and investment mission to Japan and South Korea
Alberta leads delegation of forestry industry leaders to Texas
China, South Korea and Japan agree to strengthen trade ties
Trump signs order imposing reciprocal tariffs on countries worldwide
 

Today We Recommend

EIB and EIF unveil €3.6 billion financing package to boost clean transport, energy, automotive innovation


Highlights 

AgriAmerica expanding in Chautauqua County, will create 469 jobs

Flock Safety to create 210 new jobs in Smyrna, Georgia

Ferrero Group’s expansion in Brantford, Ontario will create 500 new jobs


COMPANIES

Flock Safety to create 210 new jobs in Smyrna, Georgia

International Paper in talks to divest five plants in Europe
Ferrero Group’s expansion in Brantford, Ontario will create 500 new jobs
Kazatomprom signs 7 year contract for uranium concentrate supplies to Czech Republic
Arla Foods and DMK Group to create Europe’s largest dairy cooperative
Hungarian company to build optical fibre cable linking Egypt with Europe
 

CAREERS

Helio Fujita joins Mars as global people & organization VP for petcare business

Cold Summit appoints Harld Peters as president of Cold Summit Europe
Royal Van Leeuwen chairman Peter Rietberg stepped down
iSON Xperiences appoints Ricardo Langwieder as chief sales officer
Microland appoints Meenu Bagla as chief marketing officer
Rhenus Group expands management board
 

ECONOMY

Turkish exports hit second highest March figure on record

EU hourly labour costs ranged from €11 to €55 in 2024
U.S. consumer confidence dropped sharply in February
EU records trade surplus for 6 quarters in a row
Brazil reaches second highest export value for January
U.S. becomes New Zealand's second largest export destination
 

EARNINGS

Ericsson Q2 sales down but North America up

Lockton revenue $3.55 billion
Motorcar Parts of America Q4 sales $189.5 million
Limoneira Q2 revenue $44.6 million
Lululemon athletica Q1 revenue increased 10% to $2.2 billion
PVH Q1 GAAP EBIT $205 million
 

OP-ED

Micromanaging is the worst enemy of efficiency and teamwork

Niger set to monetize massive gas reserves through Saharan natural gas pipeline
Putting the brakes on EV folly that choked the market
Oil discovery in Kavango Basin may mean huge benefits for Namibians
Cape Town and Dubai battle over Africa's energy future
Is America going to lose its superpower status?
 

AGRIFISH

Peru to secure fresh potato access to Brazilian market

New pollen-replacing food for honey bees brings new hope for survival
Fishing ban begins across Türkiye to protect marine resources
Argentina opened Albanian market for beef exports
Vietnam becomes Brazil’s second largest seafood supplier
Scientists design model to aid pig fever vaccine development
 

LEADERSHIP

Study: Missing a deadline has a bigger impact than you might think

Employers prefer younger job candidates for AI roles although experienced workers perform same or better
Study finds workers misjudge wage markets
Some organizations may need to expand their hierarchical structures earlier than others
Study finds there's right way and wrong way to deliver negative feedback in workplace
Allyship is critical and its needs appreciation
 

CRIME

EU fines carmakers €458 million for anti-recycling cartel

Commission fines Pierre Cardin and its licensee Ahlers €5.7 million for restricting cross-border sales of clothing
BHP, Vale agree to pay $30B damages for Brazil dam disaster
Commission fines České dráhy and Österreichische Bundesbahnen €48.7 million over collusion to exclude common compe
SEC charges Keurig with making inaccurate statements regarding recyclability of K-Cup beverage pod
SEC charges John Deere with FCPA violations for subsidiary’s role in Thai bribery scheme
 

Magazine

TRAVEL

Radisson Hotel Group debuts in the heart of Tunisia’s capital city, Tunis

Morocco’s first Radisson branded hotel opens in Casablanca
Buna channels, an unreal and beautiful part of Bosnia and Herzegovina
JW Marriott unveils Mindful Haven with opening of JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi
Sotheby's Sports Week returns with fantastic artifacts
Red Roof properties open in Michigan
 

SEA, LAND, AIR

Citroën C3 Aircross, the most affordable compact SUV with 7 seats

2025 Chevrolet Equinox stands apart with fresh looks and capability
Hill Helicopters HX50, luxury in the sky
Opel Movano becomes fully equipped camper van
Porsche Panamera, new hybrid variants
Dodge Charger, 670 horsepower of electric
 

DESIGN

Cold night, hot fire pit, cool entertainment

Embellish your home with PVC panels
You'll have to hurry if you want one of 20 new Louis Vuitton watches
Luxury duvet looks good, fells good and keeps you healthy
Vacheron Constantin, watches for life and more
Schüller kitchens, where functionality marries design
 

GADGETS

MESA/Boogie Celebrates 40-year partnership with John Petrucci

reMarkable 2, monochrome tablet for your thoughts and your eyes
OnePlus Ace 3V, first with Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, flagship with a reason
Samsung Galaxy S24 is photography powerhouse
Casette tapes are making a big comeback, and so are portable players
 

HEALTH

FDA grants marketing authorization of first home test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis

Human cases of anthrax reported in western Mongolia
One more barrier to developing vaccine for HIV removed
Rwanda begins world's first clinical trial for treatment of Marburg virus disease
Rwanda restricts gatherings amid Marburg virus outbreak, to begin trials of vaccine
Teksas Attorney General reaches settlement in first-of-its-kind healthcare generative AI investigation
 

MEANTIME

Russian academics, gas industry experts see undersea LNG transportation as feasible

India launches space docking experiment mission
World-first carbon-14 diamond battery made
Einstein Telescope step closer
Exoplanet-hunting telescope to begin search for another Earth in 2026
India to build first phase of its own space station by 2028