West Virginia Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for West Virginia
Employment Indicators for West Virginia (2024)
Total Employed
744,248
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
66.5 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.0%
Entrepreneurship
Government
20.3%
Public Sector
West Virginia Workforce by Sector & Gender
West Virginia Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 495,069 | 66.5% |
| Government | 151,448 | 20.3% |
| Self-Employed | 30,057 | 4.0% |
| Private Non-Profit | 66,596 | 8.9% |
West Virginia Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.31:1 |
| Government | 0.83:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.41:1 |
West Virginia Employment Trends (2010–2024)
West Virginia Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66.5% | 20.3% | 4.0% | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 67.1% | 19.9% | 4.1% | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 67.8% | 19.7% | 4.1% | 8.3% |
| 2021 | 68.4% | 19.3% | 4.2% | 8.1% |
| 2020 | 68.1% | 19.6% | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| 2019 | 68.9% | 18.9% | 4.4% | 7.7% |
| 2018 | 69.1% | 18.8% | 4.3% | 7.7% |
| 2017 | 69.0% | 18.7% | 4.4% | 7.7% |
| 2016 | 69.1% | 18.9% | 4.4% | 7.5% |
| 2015 | 69.1% | 19.0% | 4.4% | 7.4% |
| 2014 | 68.9% | 19.2% | 4.5% | 7.3% |
| 2013 | 68.6% | 19.3% | 4.8% | 7.2% |
| 2012 | 68.6% | 19.1% | 4.9% | 7.3% |
| 2011 | 68.3% | 19.1% | 5.0% | 7.4% |
| 2010 | 68.4% | 18.7% | 5.3% | 7.4% |
Employment Sector FAQs for West Virginia
The largest employment sector in West Virginia is Private For-Profit, which employs 66.5% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 744,248 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in West Virginia.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.31:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in West Virginia has shown a decrease, moving from 763,691 to 744,248 according to Census Bureau records.