Mercer County, West Virginia Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Mercer County, West Virginia
Employment Indicators for Mercer County, West Virginia (2024)
Total Employed
23,338
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
65.9 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.0%
Entrepreneurship
Government
20.2%
Public Sector
Mercer County, West Virginia Workforce by Sector & Gender

Mercer County, West Virginia Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 15,370 | 65.9% |
| Government | 4,709 | 20.2% |
| Self-Employed | 926 | 4.0% |
| Private Non-Profit | 2,282 | 9.8% |
Mercer County, West Virginia Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.32:1 |
| Government | 0.67:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.82:1 |
Mercer County, West Virginia Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Mercer County, West Virginia Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 65.9% | 20.2% | 4.0% | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 68.0% | 18.9% | 3.4% | 9.6% |
| 2022 | 68.0% | 20.6% | 3.1% | 8.2% |
| 2021 | 67.8% | 20.2% | 3.5% | 8.4% |
| 2020 | 68.7% | 21.0% | 4.0% | 6.2% |
| 2019 | 68.2% | 19.6% | 4.3% | 7.8% |
| 2018 | 68.3% | 19.0% | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| 2017 | 68.3% | 18.3% | 5.3% | 8.0% |
| 2016 | 69.8% | 18.3% | 5.0% | 6.8% |
| 2015 | 70.2% | 17.7% | 5.0% | 7.1% |
| 2014 | 71.1% | 17.3% | 4.8% | 6.8% |
| 2013 | 69.4% | 18.3% | 4.9% | 7.3% |
| 2012 | 69.7% | 17.8% | 4.9% | 7.6% |
| 2011 | 68.9% | 17.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010 | 67.9% | 17.6% | 5.4% | 9.1% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Mercer County, West Virginia
The largest employment sector in Mercer County, West Virginia is Private For-Profit, which employs 65.9% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 23,338 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Mercer County, West Virginia.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.32:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Mercer County, West Virginia has shown an increase, moving from 22,698 to 23,338 according to Census Bureau records.