States · West Virginia

West Virginia Economy — Live Data

Tracking the West Virginia economy: unemployment at 4.3% (above the national rate of 4.2%), plus job growth, home prices, and income — all sourced from the Federal Reserve and Bureau of Labor Statistics, in plain English.

Unemployment Rate
4.3%
▲ Above US average (4.2%)
Nonfarm Jobs
727K
▲ +1.1% jobs YoY
House Prices (YoY)
+4.8%
▲ Rising
Per-Capita Income
$58K
▲ +4.5% vs prior year
West Virginia vs. United States — Unemployment
West Virginia
4.3%
United States
4.2%

West Virginia is running above the national unemployment rate. At 4.3% vs 4.2% nationally, local job seekers face a somewhat tougher market than the US average.

Jobs & Output
Nonfarm payrolls
727K
Job growth (YoY)
+1.1%
Real GDP (2025)
$83B
GDP growth (YoY)
+0.5%

Payrolls are monthly (BLS); GDP and income are annual (BEA). Key sectors in West Virginia: energy, chemicals, and tourism.

What this means if you live or work in West Virginia
💼
Job market
With unemployment at or above the national average, hiring in West Virginia is more employer-friendly — job seekers should expect more competition per opening.
🏠
Housing
House prices are rising moderately (+4.8% YoY) — a balanced market by recent standards.
💵
Income
Per-capita personal income in West Virginia is $57,932, up 4.5% from the prior year. Compare against national inflation to gauge real purchasing power.
🏭
Key industries
West Virginia's economy leans on energy, chemicals, and tourism — sector-specific national trends (energy prices, rates, consumer spending) hit this state through those channels first.
Key Numbers — West Virginia
Unemployment4.3%
US unemployment4.2%
Nonfarm jobs727K
House prices YoY+4.8%
Per-capita income$57,932
Real GDP$83B
Labor data as ofMay 2026
Nearby States
Virginia economy → Ohio economy → Pennsylvania economy → Kentucky economy → All 50 states →
National Data
US labor market → US housing data → US inflation → Full dashboard →

Data: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) — series WVUR, WVNA, WVSTHPI, WVPCPI, WVRGSP — plus BLS and BEA. Live values load on page open; figures shown are the most recent official releases. Not financial advice.