West Virginia Chamber Responds to Concerning State Jobs Report
August 18, 2025
Charleston, W.Va. — The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is raising concerns following the release of the July 2025 jobs report from WorkForce West Virginia, which shows the state’s labor force and overall employment continuing to decline year-over-year.
According to the report, West Virginia’s civilian workforce shrank from 787,600 in July 2024 to 780,000 in July 2025, a loss of 7,600 individuals. Total employment also fell during that period, from 755,300 to 750,900 — a reduction of 4,400 jobs.
While private sector employment showed a modest increase, from 565,900 in 2024 to 567,500 in 2025, overall employment is still down, with key industries that have traditionally anchored the state’s economy experiencing notable job losses:
- Mining employment declined from 21,300 to 20,700
- Manufacturing dipped slightly from 45,600 to 45,400
- Hospitality saw a sharp drop from 71,400 to 68,700
- Retail employment decreased from 78,400 to 77,800
“These numbers are troubling,” Steve Roberts, President of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said. “We’re seeing consistent signs of economic softening across several core industries. When the workforce is shrinking and job losses are sustained over time, we must treat it as a warning sign, and we must respond with urgency.”
The Chamber noted that this is the 14th consecutive month of employment decline in West Virginia, even as many neighboring states report job growth and economic expansion.
“West Virginia is not keeping pace with the region or the nation,” Roberts said. “This should concern every leader in our state. The good news is that we believe there are real solutions if we act decisively and work together.”
While the recent release focuses on employment data, the Chamber continues to advocate for strategic action to reverse these trends, emphasizing that targeted improvements in education, workforce training, infrastructure and business climate can help create a more resilient, competitive economy.
“West Virginia has the talent, the potential, and the commitment from the business community,” Roberts said. “But we need a unified, forward-looking strategy to turn these numbers around.”
For more information about the Chamber’s policy recommendations and strategies for economic growth, visit https://wvchamber.com/.
Members of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce are your small business neighbors. Chamber members employ over half of our state’s workforce and are found in every county and region of our state.