| Unemployment rates increased in 27 of the state's 55 counties in March according to county-by-county information released Tuesday by WorkForce West Virginia.
The numbers show three counties, Calhoun (15.9), McDowell (15.4) and Roane (14.4), lead the state with jobless rates above 14 percent.
The jobless numbers are faulty since they are based on a decades old model which reports only on individuals currently getting unemployment.
Joblessness in Calhoun and most rural WV counties is based on a lack of job opportunities within a 75 mile region, or a decline in construction or natural gas production jobs.
The overall state jobless rate increased slightly from 7.6 percent to 7.7 percent. |
