Unemployment rises in 75 percent of W.Va. counties

The unemployment rate rose in 41 of West Virginia’s 55 counties last month, new state government figures show.

The jobless rate dropped in nine counties and was unchanged in five others, according to data compiled by WorkForce West Virginia, a division of the state’s Department of Commerce.

{mosads}The statewide unemployment rate dipped to 5.1 percent from the previous month. The national unemployment rate for December was 3.9 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Calhoun County had the state’s highest unemployment rate, at 12.4 percent, while Jefferson County had the lowest at 3 percent.

The Associated Press reported on the state’s jobless figures earlier this week.

President Trump promised during several campaign rallies in West Virginia that he would help the state’s economy by bringing back coal jobs, an effort that has been somewhat successful, according to local media reports.

Trump has remained relatively popular among voters in West Virginia. In December, his approval rating among that group was 61 percent, according to a Morning Consult poll.