McDowell County, West Virginia Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for McDowell County, West Virginia
Employment Indicators for McDowell County, West Virginia (2024)
Total Employed
3,760
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
59.3 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
0.8%
Entrepreneurship
Government
28.7%
Public Sector
McDowell County, West Virginia Workforce by Sector & Gender

McDowell County, West Virginia Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 2,229 | 59.3% |
| Government | 1,081 | 28.7% |
| Self-Employed | 29 | 0.8% |
| Private Non-Profit | 421 | 11.2% |
McDowell County, West Virginia Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.37:1 |
| Government | 0.54:1 |
| Self-Employed | 0.26:1 |
McDowell County, West Virginia Employment Trends (2010–2024)

McDowell County, West Virginia Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 59.3% | 28.7% | 0.8% | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 64.1% | 23.7% | 2.4% | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 57.0% | 27.6% | 3.7% | 11.8% |
| 2021 | 62.0% | 26.7% | 4.2% | 7.2% |
| 2020 | 57.0% | 30.9% | 3.9% | 8.1% |
| 2019 | 60.7% | 30.1% | 2.9% | 6.2% |
| 2018 | 58.2% | 33.2% | 3.4% | 5.1% |
| 2017 | 59.3% | 32.2% | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| 2016 | 57.9% | 33.5% | 3.0% | 5.6% |
| 2015 | 60.6% | 30.8% | 2.7% | 5.8% |
| 2014 | 60.9% | 30.4% | 3.2% | 5.5% |
| 2013 | 60.8% | 29.3% | 2.2% | 7.5% |
| 2012 | 62.0% | 27.7% | 1.9% | 8.3% |
| 2011 | 59.3% | 31.0% | 2.1% | 7.4% |
| 2010 | 58.8% | 31.7% | 2.5% | 6.7% |
Employment Sector FAQs for McDowell County, West Virginia
The largest employment sector in McDowell County, West Virginia is Private For-Profit, which employs 59.3% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 3,760 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in McDowell County, West Virginia.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.37:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in McDowell County, West Virginia, accounting for 11.2% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in McDowell County, West Virginia has shown a decrease, moving from 5,451 to 3,760 according to Census Bureau records.