How many jobs were lost in West Virginia last month?
Refreshed monthly
West Virginia lost 1,200 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 40th 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 538 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-1.2K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
40th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
August 2026’s loss of 1,200 jobs was the 3rd consecutive month of negative job growth in West Virginia. Monthly job growth was up from the 2,500 lost jobs in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), West Virginia gained jobs in 35 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the 12th-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 1,200 fewer jobs in August 2026 in West Virginia than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which West Virginia sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were local government, health care and social assistance, and accommodation and food services. Local government added 400 jobs, more than the entire economy. Health care and social assistance gained 300 jobs, while accommodation and food services added 200. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, professional, scientific, and technical services, and construction. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 500 jobs in August 2026, while professional, scientific, and technical services lost 400 jobs and construction lost 400 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 300 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in West Virginia (August 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 August 2026 ranged from a loss of 900 jobs in the Huntington, WV area to a loss of 100 jobs in the Parkersburg, WV 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. | +0 | |
| 2. | -100 | |
| 3. | -100 | |
| 4. | -200 | |
| 5. | -200 | |
| 6. | -400 | |
| 7. | -800 | |
| 8. | -900 |
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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.
