Charleston, West Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Charleston rose 0.2 percentage points in October 2018 to 5.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the West Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Charleston peaked in November 2010 at 8.0% and is now 2.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.0% in March 2017, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Charleston unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
West Virginia	5.2%	0.0	-0.2
Charleston	5.2%	+0.2	-0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2018 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Charleston, West Virginia, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Charleston, West Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Charleston peaked in December 2010 at 8,387. There are now 3,469 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,672 in September 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 246.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Charleston	4,918	+246	-162

Number of Unemployed Persons

Charleston, West Virginia Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	West Virginia Unemployment Rate	Charleston Unemployment Rate	Charleston Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	5.2%	5.2%	4,918
September 2018	3.7%	5.2%	5.0%	4,672
August 2018	3.9%	5.3%	5.1%	4,751
July 2018	3.9%	5.4%	5.5%	5,159
June 2018	4.0%	5.3%	5.1%	4,849
May 2018	3.8%	5.4%	5.2%	4,991
April 2018	3.9%	5.4%	5.4%	5,190
March 2018	4.1%	5.4%	5.6%	5,354
February 2018	4.1%	5.4%	5.3%	5,096
January 2018	4.1%	5.4%	5.3%	5,049
December 2017	4.1%	5.4%	5.6%	5,344