Department of Numbers

Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Huntington rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 4.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points higher than the West Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Huntington peaked in April 2020 at 16.7% and is now 12.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.8% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Huntington unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
West Virginia 3.8% +0.2 -0.3
Huntington 4.2% +0.1 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Huntington, West Virginia, National

Huntington, West Virginia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Huntington, West Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Huntington peaked in April 2020 at 24,026. There are now 17,848 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 5,545 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 633.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Huntington 6,178 +238 -26

Number of Unemployed Persons

Huntington, West Virginia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
West Virginia
Unemployment Rate
Huntington
Unemployment Rate
Huntington
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 4.0%
September
2023
3.8% 3.8% 4.2% 6,178
August
2023
3.8% 3.6% 4.1% 5,940
July
2023
3.5% 3.4% 3.9% 5,712
June
2023
3.6% 3.3% 3.9% 5,638
May
2023
3.7% 3.3% 3.9% 5,602
April
2023
3.4% 3.3% 3.8% 5,545
March
2023
3.5% 3.4% 3.9% 5,573
February
2023
3.6% 3.7% 4.0% 5,744
January
2023
3.4% 3.9% 4.1% 5,983
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.3% 6,147
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 4.3% 6,156

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.