BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

12/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/11/2024 14:11

County Employment and Wages in West Virginia — Second Quarter 2024

News Release Information

24-2553-PHI
Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

County Employment and Wages in West Virginia - Second Quarter 2024

Employment declined in West Virginia's only large county from June 2023 to June 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall-Bovee noted that employment in Kanawha County decreased 0.4 percent over the year. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 259 of the 355 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.0 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-3.0 percent).

Employment in Kanawha County was at 97,900 in June 2024. Within the county's private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Kanawha County accounted for 14.0 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 54 counties in West Virginia with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all the smaller counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

The average weekly wage in Kanawha County increased 5.9 percent from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024.

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.4 percent over the year. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published data, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Hamilton, IN, had the largest percentage wage increase (+33.4 percent). Essex, MA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-2.1 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

The weekly wage in Kanawha County, at $1,185, was below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024 and ranked 218th among the 369 largest counties.

Among the 360 largest U.S. counties with published data, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2024. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,632). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 273 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($820).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 54 smaller counties in West Virginia-those with employment below 75,000-Doddridge ($1,383) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state. Pocahontas County ($803) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 55 counties in West Virginia were considered, 16 reported average weekly wages of less than $950, 14 registered wages from $950 to $1,049, 11 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, and 14 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in West Virginia, second quarter 2024

U.S. average = $1,390

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

The County Employment and Wages release for the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the largest county in West Virginia, second quarter 2024
Area Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands) 		Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2024
(thousands) 		Percent change,
June
2023-24 (2) 		National ranking
by percent change (3) 		Second quarter
2024 ($) 		National ranking
by level (3) 		Percent change,
second quarter
2023-24 (2) 		National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,238.2 155,710.2 0.8 -- 1,390 -- 4.4 --

West Virginia

61.7 700.1 0.6 -- 1,127 42 4.7 12

Kanawha

6.8 97.9 -0.4 298 1,185 218 5.9 27

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in West Virginia, second quarter 2024
Area Establishments Employment June 2024 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,238,175 155,710,239 1,390

West Virginia

61,735 700,079 1,127

Barbour

391 3,969 1,153

Berkeley

3,607 38,605 1,117

Boone

412 4,815 1,224

Braxton

379 3,759 903

Brooke

604 7,181 991

Cabell

3,347 51,510 1,112

Calhoun

139 1,243 1,028

Clay

196 1,728 1,105

Doddridge

130 1,631 1,383

Fayette

1,176 10,810 936

Gilmer

170 1,713 1,012

Grant

357 3,644 997

Greenbrier

1,385 12,918 887

Hampshire

537 4,315 880

Hancock

879 8,869 1,036

Hardy

446 6,122 927

Harrison

2,459 37,430 1,238

Jackson

716 7,993 1,035

Jefferson

2,225 17,248 1,241

Kanawha

6,782 97,875 1,185

Lewis

542 5,910 950

Lincoln

332 2,482 840

Logan

966 10,577 1,114

McDowell

384 4,026 1,117

Marion

1,705 17,648 1,038

Marshall

681 11,023 1,250

Mason

491 6,103 1,152

Mercer

1,675 19,444 969

Mineral

682 8,470 1,044

Mingo

554 5,065 1,201

Monongalia

4,083 59,044 1,267

Monroe

308 2,060 865

Morgan

373 3,128 894

Nicholas

831 7,070 973

Ohio

1,777 27,621 1,086

Pendleton

224 1,383 821

Pleasants

190 2,634 1,206

Pocahontas

343 2,926 803

Preston

866 7,373 1,072

Putnam

1,866 21,690 1,278

Raleigh

2,589 32,680 1,055

Randolph

1,002 10,731 871

Ritchie

264 2,746 966

Roane

352 2,957 900

Summers

269 2,191 841

Taylor

334 3,413 1,148

Tucker

280 2,848 909

Tyler

172 1,934 1,210

Upshur

823 7,825 999

Wayne

692 8,641 1,158

Webster

214 1,508 845

Wetzel

456 4,441 1,003

Wirt

105 730 875

Wood

2,618 36,110 1,087

Wyoming

447 4,499 1,115

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, second quarter 2024
State Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands) 		Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2024
(thousands) 		Percent change,
June
2023-24 		Second quarter
2024 ($) 		National ranking
by level 		Percent change,
second quarter
2023-24 		National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,238.2 155,710.2 0.8 1,390 -- 4.4 --

Alabama

162.9 2,111.1 1.2 1,150 36 3.9 35

Alaska

25.4 345.9 0.8 1,345 15 4.5 17

Arizona

221.3 3,137.3 1.1 1,324 18 4.6 16

Arkansas

101.7 1,299.9 1.0 1,074 49 4.1 30

California

1,878.6 18,193.5 0.4 1,697 4 4.4 20

Colorado

268.9 2,909.4 -0.2 1,487 8 4.2 25

Connecticut

151.4 1,702.2 0.4 1,569 6 3.8 37

Delaware

43.8 481.0 0.9 1,322 19 5.4 6

District of Columbia

52.3 764.0 0.1 2,283 1 4.2 25

Florida

903.5 9,700.1 1.4 1,278 21 3.6 43

Georgia

392.2 4,867.7 1.2 1,297 20 4.2 25

Hawaii

59.6 640.9 0.8 1,273 22 5.8 3

Idaho

101.0 867.3 1.2 1,096 48 5.6 4

Illinois

410.2 6,115.5 0.0 1,401 12 3.4 44

Indiana

192.5 3,187.3 0.4 1,171 33 6.4 2

Iowa

111.3 1,588.0 0.2 1,118 45 3.3 45

Kansas

100.9 1,435.8 0.5 1,124 43 4.0 31

Kentucky

157.1 1,995.9 1.0 1,146 38 4.3 23

Louisiana

155.9 1,904.3 0.6 1,144 40 4.7 12

Maine

65.7 666.1 1.1 1,167 35 4.2 25

Maryland

210.5 2,778.5 1.5 1,454 9 3.8 37

Massachusetts

287.6 3,708.1 0.2 1,758 3 5.0 8

Michigan

345.1 4,480.5 0.4 1,266 23 3.9 35

Minnesota

212.2 2,985.5 0.5 1,359 14 3.3 45

Mississippi

89.8 1,163.8 0.1 960 51 4.0 31

Missouri

245.3 2,927.1 0.6 1,186 32 3.1 48

Montana

63.3 528.8 1.5 1,113 46 3.8 37

Nebraska

77.1 1,030.9 0.7 1,122 44 2.7 51

Nevada

108.6 1,548.9 1.6 1,243 28 4.5 17

New Hampshire

66.7 699.6 0.5 1,443 10 4.0 31

New Jersey

338.5 4,361.1 0.9 1,516 7 3.3 45

New Mexico

68.4 871.9 1.2 1,150 36 4.4 20

New York

712.7 9,762.4 1.3 1,687 5 4.0 31

North Carolina

379.6 4,902.0 0.9 1,256 25 4.8 9

North Dakota

36.5 437.4 1.5 1,221 30 3.1 48

Ohio

341.2 5,558.1 0.4 1,214 31 4.7 12

Oklahoma

129.3 1,684.7 0.8 1,101 47 4.7 12

Oregon

196.1 2,019.2 -0.1 1,338 16 4.8 9

Pennsylvania

393.6 6,067.5 0.8 1,325 17 3.8 37

Rhode Island

48.8 504.7 1.1 1,257 24 2.9 50

South Carolina

188.4 2,290.1 1.8 1,134 41 5.1 7

South Dakota

40.2 470.3 0.7 1,074 49 3.8 37

Tennessee

234.9 3,287.4 1.3 1,248 27 4.2 25

Texas

840.9 13,905.7 1.2 1,381 13 4.5 17

Utah

138.2 1,715.2 0.8 1,249 26 5.6 4

Vermont

32.8 310.8 0.0 1,227 29 4.3 23

Virginia

319.9 4,140.8 1.4 1,436 11 4.8 9

Washington

234.7 3,674.3 1.0 1,776 2 7.4 1

West Virginia

61.7 700.1 0.6 1,127 42 4.7 12

Wisconsin

208.5 2,990.8 0.4 1,168 34 3.7 42

Wyoming

31.0 290.9 0.5 1,145 39 4.4 20

Puerto Rico

54.5 944.0 1.3 651 (3) 4.7 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.9 36.4 -0.1 1,010 (3) 1.5 (3)

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.