State Jobless Rate Dips

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped four-tenths of a percentage point to 6.9 percent in October. WorkForce West Virginia says that the number of unemployed state residents fell by 3,500 in October to 54,300. Employment rose by 1,400 in the service-providing sector, including 1,100 in educational and health services, 900 in professional and business services, and 600 in both financial activities and in other services. Declines included 1,300 in trade, transportation and utilities, 300 in government and 100 in both information and in leisure and hospitality. Employment fell 2,100 in the goods-producing sector, including losses of 900 in construction, 800 in mining and logging and 400 in manufacturing. Nationally, the unemployment rate dipped to 5.0 percent in October.