How many jobs were added in West Virginia last month?
Refreshed monthly
West Virginia gained 9,700 jobs in May 2026, ranking it fourth 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 822 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+9.7K
month to month change in number of jobs (May 2026)
4th
rank among states in monthly job growth (May 2026)
May 2026's gain of 9,700 jobs was the 3rd consecutive month of positive job growth in West Virginia. Monthly job growth was up from the 1,200 new jobs in April 2026.
During the latest five year period (June 2021 to May 2026), West Virginia gained jobs in 37 out of 60 months. May 2026 had the second-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in May 2026 (+9,700) while job growth was weakest in June 2022 (-10,700).
There were 9,700 more jobs in May 2026 in West Virginia than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, June 2021–May 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which West Virginia sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in May 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in May 2026 were local government, professional, scientific, and technical services, and state government. Local government added 9,000 jobs, more than the entire economy. Professional, scientific, and technical services gained 500 jobs, while state government added 500 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 300 jobs during May 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in West Virginia (May 2026)
How does West Virginia's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?
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 125,000 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 108,333 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 May 2026 ranged from a loss of 200 jobs in the Wheeling, WV area to a gain of 800 jobs in the Morgantown, 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. | +800 | |
| 2. | +600 | |
| 3. | +300 | |
| 4. | +300 | |
| 5. | +200 | |
| 6. | +0 | |
| 7. | -100 | |
| 8. | -200 |
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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.
