WINFIELD, W.Va. -- While loading groceries into the back of her car at the WalMart in Hurricane, a woman who declined to give her name, couldn't keep the frustration out of her voice when asked about the current job market.

Her husband, an employee with a Nitro company, lost his job last November -- the day he came back to work from the Thanksgiving holiday. He was out of work for about four months before being rehired, but had to take a pay cut and lost his insurance.

"If I hadn't had my job, I don't know what we would have done," she said.

While both are working now, her husband's cut in pay and the rise in the price of food and gas have stretched the couple's budget.

They've gone through their savings, and have stopped making payments to their IRA.

Since January, Putnam County's unemployment rate has steadily risen, but compared to West Virginia's 55 counties, it has fared better than average.

According to the most recent data from WorkForce West Virginia, Putnam County had an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent in August, the second lowest in the state behind Monongalia County, with 5 percent.

Putnam County officials say the county's location, Interstate 64 and a diverse job market have kept the county's unemployment rate at bay.

"We've been a lot better in terms of job loss and home loss," County Commissioner Joe Haynes said. "We have been hit, but not as severely as other counties."

Statewide, Putnam was one of seven counties that reported better-than-average unemployment rates in August, but its lead was by fractions of a percentage point.

Jefferson County reported an unemployment rate of 7 percent, Marion County, 7 percent; Gilmer, 7.2 percent; Kanawha, 7.2 percent; Mercer, 7.2 percent; and Monroe, 7.2 percent.

The statewide average for August was 8.6 percent. In September, it dropped half a percentage point to 8.1 percent.

"It's different for each county," said Ben Parker, director for research, information and analysis at WorkForce West Virginia. "Some of the rural counties tend to suffer more because their economic base is not as broad."

Putnam County's largest employers are local government and the service industry, including trade, transportation and utilities. Major employers include the board of education, county government, CAMC, the Toyota Motor Co. plant, the John Amos power plant, and the Appalachian Electric Power call center in Hurricane.

None have reported major layoffs.

"We're not just retail, there are a variety of different business and industries in the county, and that has helped," County Commissioner Steve Andes said.

The county development authority, planning commission, chamber of commerce and other organizations have been at the forefront of building Putnam's business base, which has been rapidly expanding for more than a decade, Andes said.

The county's location between Charleston and Huntington, U.S. 35, I-64 in addition to a low tax base and lots of flat land have made it attractive to a variety of businesses and industries, County Commissioner Gary Tillis said.

WINFIELD, W.Va. -- While loading groceries into the back of her car at the WalMart in Hurricane, a woman who declined to give her name, couldn't keep the frustration out of her voice when asked about the current job market.

Her husband, an employee with a Nitro company, lost his job last November -- the day he came back to work from the Thanksgiving holiday. He was out of work for about four months before being rehired, but had to take a pay cut and lost his insurance.

"If I hadn't had my job, I don't know what we would have done," she said.

While both are working now, her husband's cut in pay and the rise in the price of food and gas have stretched the couple's budget.

They've gone through their savings, and have stopped making payments to their IRA.

Since January, Putnam County's unemployment rate has steadily risen, but compared to West Virginia's 55 counties, it has fared better than average.

According to the most recent data from WorkForce West Virginia, Putnam County had an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent in August, the second lowest in the state behind Monongalia County, with 5 percent.

Putnam County officials say the county's location, Interstate 64 and a diverse job market have kept the county's unemployment rate at bay.

"We've been a lot better in terms of job loss and home loss," County Commissioner Joe Haynes said. "We have been hit, but not as severely as other counties."

Statewide, Putnam was one of seven counties that reported better-than-average unemployment rates in August, but its lead was by fractions of a percentage point.

Jefferson County reported an unemployment rate of 7 percent, Marion County, 7 percent; Gilmer, 7.2 percent; Kanawha, 7.2 percent; Mercer, 7.2 percent; and Monroe, 7.2 percent.

The statewide average for August was 8.6 percent. In September, it dropped half a percentage point to 8.1 percent.

"It's different for each county," said Ben Parker, director for research, information and analysis at WorkForce West Virginia. "Some of the rural counties tend to suffer more because their economic base is not as broad."

Putnam County's largest employers are local government and the service industry, including trade, transportation and utilities. Major employers include the board of education, county government, CAMC, the Toyota Motor Co. plant, the John Amos power plant, and the Appalachian Electric Power call center in Hurricane.

None have reported major layoffs.

"We're not just retail, there are a variety of different business and industries in the county, and that has helped," County Commissioner Steve Andes said.

The county development authority, planning commission, chamber of commerce and other organizations have been at the forefront of building Putnam's business base, which has been rapidly expanding for more than a decade, Andes said.

The county's location between Charleston and Huntington, U.S. 35, I-64 in addition to a low tax base and lots of flat land have made it attractive to a variety of businesses and industries, County Commissioner Gary Tillis said.

Development has slowed in the county, but it has not stopped, Tillis said.

But some businesses and families are struggling, said Marty Chapman, president of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.

"A lot of the mom-and-pop places are able to manage themselves well enough to get through, but everybody is just trying to hold on," Chapman said.

In August, Putnam reported a workforce of 26,900 people, of which 1,850 were out of work.

Diana, who declined to give her last name, said her husband has been out of work for about six months in the last two years.

"It's been piece by piece," she said.

A construction worker, he has worked on projects at the University of Charleston and at the John Amos plant, but as development slowed so did the jobs, she said.

Her husband is one of hundreds of people seeking employment in his field, she said.

Right now, he hopes to get a job on the upcoming construction project at the John Amos plant to install a scrubber within the plant's power-generating unit to reduce its sulfur dioxide emissions.

The scrubber is the second of three to be installed at the plant. Construction finished on the first scrubber in March. Construction on the second is scheduled to begin within the next few months and will employ up to 2,000 contract workers, said Haynes, the plant's community-relations manager.

"What typically happens is they draw people from the local building constitution trades, then they move down to the Tri State group and beyond," Haynes said. "Local people would be the first ones hired here."

Diana is also hopeful a $57 million school bond, passed in August, will bring jobs to the area. The bond will fund construction of three new schools and a renovation project.

Construction is expected to begin within the next year.

"West Virginia has weathered the recession storm better than other states in the country, and Putnam County is pretty much in that same boat," Haynes said.

Mason and Jackson counties, which border Putnam, were among those with the highest unemployment rates in the state in August. Jackson reported 13.2 percent and Mason reported 13.6 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates were: Wyoming, 13 percent; Calhoun, 13.4 percent; Wetzel, 13.5 percent; and McDowell, 14.1 percent.

@tag:Reach Veronica Nett at veroni...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5113.