Department of Numbers

West Virginia Job Growth

There were 699,200 jobs in West Virginia in May 2023 according to the CES survey of employers. The CPS survey of households showed 756,786 employed persons for the month. West Virginia added 700 jobs in May 2023 according to the CES survey while the broader CPS employment measure rose by 569 (Comparing CES and CPS employment numbers.). Also available is West Virginia job growth compared to other states.

Employment Survey May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
CES 699,200 +700 +2,200
CPS 756,786 +569 -425

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 41,100 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 87,400 jobs according to CES employment figures.

CPS employment in West Virginia reached a maximum of 770,072 in April 2008. 13,286 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 114,340 jobs according to the CPS survey.

Employment: CES, CPS

CES and CPS employment chart through May 2023

West Virginia Employment History

Date CES
Employment
CES
Month/Month
CPS
Employment
CPS
Month/Month
May 2023 699,200 700 756,786 569
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
November 2022 702,500 6,400 752,180 312
October 2022 696,100 1,300 751,868 -55
September 2022 694,800 900 751,923 -707
August 2022 693,900 100 752,630 -1,461
July 2022 693,800 -200 754,091 -1,724
June 2022 694,000 -3,000 755,815 -1,396