West Virginia officials say unemployment declined in January

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia officials say the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment has fallen slightly.

Officials say the rate dropped to 5.6 percent in January, with 43,500 unemployed residents. The national unemployment rate rose to 4.8 percent.

January’s total nonfarm payroll employment was up 400, with gains of 100 in the goods-producing sector and 300 in the service-providing sector.

Since January 2016, total nonfarm payroll employment has fallen by 4,500.