Most counties show drop in unemployment

The unemployment rate for October decreased in 42 of the state’s 55 counties according to WorkForce West Virginia in information released Tuesday.

The numbers show unemployment increased in Boone, Lincoln and Wayne counties, likely because of coal mining layoffs. Mingo County, another coalfield county, had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 10.8 percent. Monongalia County continues to have the lowest joblessness at 3.4 percent.

The state’s overall unemployment rate for the month was 5.6 percent, down three-tenths of a percent from September.