Total unemployment was down 1,600 over the year. The national unemployment rate inched up to 4.7 percent.

Total nonfarm payroll employment decreased 8,300 in December, with gains of 900 in the goods-producing sector and a loss of 9,200 in the service-providing sector.

The goods-producing sector reported employment gains of 1,100 in construction and decreases of 100 each in mining and logging and in manufacturing. Within the service-providing sector,  employment  increases  included  400  in  trade,  transportation  and  utilities,  100  in information, 1,000 in educational and health services, and 300 in other services. Employment declines included 500 in financial activities, 100 in professional and business services, 300 in leisure and hospitality, and 10,100 in government, due almost entirely to election workers at the local level.

Since  December  2015,  total  nonfarm  payroll  employment  has  increased  by  2,200. Employment gains included 1,600 in construction, 200 in trade, transportation and utilities, 5,500 in educational and health services, and 2,000 in leisure and hospitality. Employment declines included 2,300 in mining and logging, 500 in manufacturing, 300 in information, 1,900 in financial activities, 300 in professional and business services, 700  in  other services and  1,100  in government.

West Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased remained at 5.1 percent in December.