April was another banner month for manufacturing in West Virginia. The state added 300 sector jobs for the second consecutive month, according to figures recently released by Workforce West Virginia. In the past year, manufacturers have added 1,200 jobs.
“This positive economic trend is very encouraging, and we know more jobs are on the way,” said Charlotte Weber, RCBI director & CEO. “Nucor, Greenpower Motor Company and others have committed to creating at least 1,500 additional manufacturing jobs in the next couple of years – and that’s just in southern West Virginia. Not only is RCBI expanding our machinist and welding technology programs to meet demand, but we’re bolstering our technical services to meet the needs of state manufacturers and others considering expanding in the Mountain State.”
Since April 2021, total nonfarm payroll employment in West Virginia has increased by 17,400. Gains have included 7,400 jobs in leisure and hospitality; 3,500 in professional and business services; 3,500 in trade, transportation, and utilities; 1,500 in mining and logging; 1,300 in construction; 900 in other services; 800 in financial activities; and 300 in information services (in addition to the 1,200 in manufacturing).
Last month, West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined four-tenths of a percentage point to 3.6 percent, which matches the national unemployment rate. The number of unemployed state residents declined 700 to 28,400 in April.
For a list of available manufacturing employment opportunities, visit www.b2bwv.com and click the Job Openings tab.
