Department of Numbers

West Virginia Job Growth

There were 709,700 jobs in West Virginia in November 2023 according to the CES survey of employers. The CPS survey of households showed 758,168 employed persons for the month. West Virginia added 3,500 jobs in November 2023 according to the CES survey while the broader CPS employment measure fell by 334 (Comparing CES and CPS employment numbers.). Also available is West Virginia job growth compared to other states.

Employment Survey November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
CES 709,700 +3,500 +7,200
CPS 758,168 -334 +5,988

West Virginia Employment Changes

The charts below shows the monthly job growth for West Virginia as measured by the CES and CPS surveys. To illustrate the trend, the 3 month moving average change in employment is shown in green.

CES Employment Change: 1 Month, Rolling 3 Month

CPS Employment Change: 1 Month, Rolling 3 Month

Total Employment in West Virginia

CES employment peaked in May 2012 for West Virginia at 740,300. Since then 30,600 jobs have been lost in West Virginia according to the employer survey. From a trough of 611,800 in April 2020, West Virginia has gained 97,900 jobs according to CES employment figures.

CPS employment in West Virginia reached a maximum of 770,072 in April 2008. 11,904 jobs have been lost in West Virginia since then according to the household survey. From a April 2020 low of 642,446, West Virginia has added 115,722 jobs according to the CPS survey.

Employment: CES, CPS

CES and CPS employment chart through November 2023

West Virginia Employment History

Date CES
Employment
CES
Month/Month
CPS
Employment
CPS
Month/Month
November 2023 709,700 3,500 758,168 -334
October 2023 706,200 -300 758,502 -250
September 2023 706,500 1,000 758,752 575
August 2023 705,500 1,900 758,177 601
July 2023 703,600 2,900 757,576 290
June 2023 700,700 1,100 757,286 467
May 2023 699,600 1,100 756,819 602
April 2023 698,500 -1,100 756,217 718
March 2023 699,600 500 755,499 1,589
February 2023 699,100 1,100 753,910 785
January 2023 698,000 3,100 753,125 661
December 2022 694,900 -7,600 752,464 284