CHARLESTON - West Virginia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbed two-tenths of a percentage point to 7.5 percent in August, according to a report from WorkForce West Virginia.
The number of unemployed state residents rose by 1,100 to 60,000. The unemployment rate for the state rose from 7.3 percent in July. However, the rate was still down from 8.2 percent in August 2011.
''Total unemployment was down 5,400 over the year,'' the report stated. ''The national unemployment rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.1 percent.''
Total nonfarm payroll employment declined 2,300, with losses of 900 jobs in the goods-producing sector and 1,400 jobs in the service-providing sector, the report said.
Within the goods-producing sector, a loss of 1,600 jobs in mining and logging offset gains of 500 in construction and 200 in manufacturing.
Within the service-providing sector, employment declines included 1,200 jobs in leisure and hospitality, 1,200 in professional and business services and 500 in other services, the Workforce West Virginia report stated.
Employment gains included 1,100 jobs in government, entirely within the local sector, and 100 in educational and health services.
Employment was unchanged in financial activities and in trade, transportation, and utilities.
Since August 2011, nonfarm payroll employment has declined by 5,300 jobs, with losses of 4,000 in the goods-producing sector and 1,300 in the service-providing sector.
Employment declines included 4,700 in mining and logging, 2,700 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 2,300 in government, 2,200 in manufacturing, and 1,000 in other services.
Employment gains included 3,500 jobs in educational and health services, 2,900 in construction, 500 in leisure and hospitality, 400 in financial activities and 100 in professional and business services.
West Virginia's not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 7.2 percent in August 2012.
