WHEELING - There are 29,600 more West Virginians out of work now than there were at this time last year, as the Mountain State's unemployment rate has reached 10.5 percent.
Despite having roughly 3,000 people now working at The Highlands, Ohio County's jobless rate is currently 10.1 percent, according to the latest statistics provided by Workforce West Virginia. Last year, the county's unemployment rate was only 6.7 percent.
In Wetzel County, the unemployment rate is now 16.8 percent, which is the second highest in the Mountain State, behind only Calhoun County. Wetzel County's jobless rate last year was 12 percent.
With most Severstal Wheeling plants still idled or working well below capacity - along with companies like Bayer MaterialScience and Ormet Corp. slowing operations in recent months - it is easy to see why many Northern Panhandle residents continue struggling to find work.
Ohio County residents filed 690 more jobless claims in January than they did in the same month in 2009. Commissioner Randy Wharton said the county could "create 200 jobs pretty quickly" if the West Virginia Development Office approves the county's application to issue $30 million more in Tax Increment Financing for The Highlands. To date, the development office has not yet approved the TIF application.
"More construction will get people working. ... More retailers will hire people who will be spending money in the community," Wharton said. "We have plenty of retailers ready to move in or expand their present operations."
Fact Box
NUMBER OF JOBLESS RISES IN 2009
January 2010January 2009
Hancock15.4 percent9.8 percent
Brooke15.6 percent9.4 percent
Ohio 10.1 percent6.7 percent
Marshall12.2 percent8.2 percent
Wetzel16.8 percent12.0 percent
Tyler 13.8 percent11.8 percent
Wetzel County residents filed 320 more unemployment claims this January than last. Commissioner Robert Gorby said county leaders are "doing all we can at our level."
"The (Marcellus) Shale natural gas drilling could eventually lead to some jobs for us. But until they get some gas piped out, it is probably not going to help too much," he said.
Commissioner Scott Lemley said attracting developers to Wetzel County is difficult because of its challenging geography and terrain.
He noted, however, that coal mining operations in the eastern portion of the county could soon expand.
"The largest employer is Wetzel County Schools. ... If we cannot keep other jobs here, people will have to leave. When they take their kids with them, we will have fewer kids in the schools," Lemley said.
Brooke County residents filed 610 more jobless claims this January, propelling the county's unemployment rate to 15.6 percent, up from 9.4 percent at the same time last year.
Residents in Marshall County filed 580 additional claims, leading that county's jobless rate to increase to 12.2 percent, up from 8.2 percent in January 2009.
Hancock County residents filed 690 more unemployment claims in January, allowing the county's jobless rate to accelerate to 15.4 percent, up from 9.8 percent the previous year.
In Tyler County, residents filed 70 more jobless claims, leading the county's jobless rate to jump from 11.8 percent last year to 13.8 percent.