How many jobs were lost in West Virginia last month?
Refreshed monthly
West Virginia lost 600 jobs in July 2026, ranking it 33rd among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 587 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-600
month to month change in number of jobs (July 2026)
33rd
rank among states in monthly job growth (July 2026)
July 2026’s loss of 600 jobs was the second consecutive month of negative job growth in West Virginia. Monthly job growth was up from the 7,500 lost jobs in June 2026.
During the latest five year period (August 2021 to July 2026), West Virginia gained jobs in 36 out of 60 months. July 2026 had the 19th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in May 2026 (10,800) while job growth was weakest in June 2022 (-10,700).
There were 600 fewer jobs in July 2026 in West Virginia than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, August 2021–July 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which West Virginia sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in July 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in July 2026 were state government, wholesale trade, and professional, scientific, and technical services. State government added 400 jobs, more than the entire economy. Wholesale trade gained 300 jobs, while professional, scientific, and technical services added 200. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were construction, local government, and mining and logging. Construction lost 1,000 jobs in July 2026, while local government lost 200 jobs and mining and logging lost 200 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained zero jobs during July 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in West Virginia (July 2026)
How has West Virginia's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, West Virginia lost an average of 142 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 175, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as eighth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 1,500 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 1,300 on average every month in 2011.
In 2025, West Virginia lost an average of 142 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among six metro areas primarily in West Virginia during July 2026 ranged from a loss of 200 jobs in the Beckley, WV area to a gain of 300 jobs in the Charleston, WV area metro area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within West Virginia
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +300 | |
| 2. | +100 | |
| 3. | +0 | |
| 4. | -100 | |
| 5. | -100 | |
| 6. | -200 | |
| 7. | -200 | |
| 8. | -400 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
