Parkersburg-Vienna, West Virginia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Parkersburg rose 0.3 percentage points in October 2018 to 5.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the West Virginia rate. The unemployment rate in Parkersburg peaked in July 2009 at 9.5% and is now 4.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.2% in August 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Parkersburg 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
Parkersburg	5.5%	+0.3	-0.2

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: Parkersburg, West Virginia, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Parkersburg, West Virginia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Parkersburg peaked in July 2009 at 4,144. There are now 2,057 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,973 in August 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 114.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Parkersburg	2,087	+109	-91

Number of Unemployed Persons

Parkersburg, West Virginia Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	West Virginia Unemployment Rate	Parkersburg Unemployment Rate	Parkersburg Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	5.2%	5.5%	2,087
September 2018	3.7%	5.2%	5.2%	1,978
August 2018	3.9%	5.3%	5.2%	1,973
July 2018	3.9%	5.4%	5.6%	2,167
June 2018	4.0%	5.3%	5.6%	2,161
May 2018	3.8%	5.4%	5.6%	2,176
April 2018	3.9%	5.4%	5.7%	2,208
March 2018	4.1%	5.4%	5.6%	2,155
February 2018	4.1%	5.4%	5.6%	2,181
January 2018	4.1%	5.4%	5.6%	2,171
December 2017	4.1%	5.4%	6.1%	2,329