EMPLOYMENT PICTURE ROSIER IN WEST VIRGINIA - Well, Maybe

(12/20/2003)

By Bob Weaver State Bureau of Employment Programs numbers indicate that unemployment rates fell in 28 West Virginia counties in November. Wal-Mart must be hiring. The statistic implies more workers have been hired, returned to their workplace or new jobs have been created. McDowell County had the highest unemployment rate at 13.8 percent, but that was an improvement over October's 15 percent. Other counties reporting double-digit unemployment in November were Wirt with 11.8 percent, Mason with 11.6 percent and Calhoun with 11.4 percent. Jefferson County had the lowest jobless rate, 2.4 percent. Unemployment statistics are based on workers who are receiving unemployment benefits. After benefits expire, the unemployed person is no longer included in the statistic. Beware of statistics. Former governor Cecil Underwood published an entire book of statistics about economic growth under his administration. Charleston Daily Mail columnist Bob Kelley wrote this week "When there's no job growth to speak of, officials prattle on endlessly about business-government-education "synergies" and so forth. It's like white noise. It masks West Virginia's economic death rattle." This story started out as news, but turned into opinion. Sorry. BW

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