West Virginia lost 4,400 jobs last year, and these industries were hit the hardest
August 19, 2025
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY/WOWK) — According to the Chamber of Commerce, new gathered data shows that West Virginia’s total employment fell by 4,400 jobs last year, a metric that the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce calls “concerning.”
According to a press release from the WVCOC and data by WorkForce West Virginia in July 2025, West Virginia’s workforce declined by 7,600 people and total employment fell by 4,400. The report shows data from July 2024 compared to July 2025.
In a press release on Monday, the West Virginia Chamber raised concern for the continued decline of jobs in the state, calling the number “troubling.”
“We must treat it as a warning sign, and we must respond with urgency,” Chamber President Steve Roberts said in the release. He continued, “West Virginia is not keeping pace with the region or the nation. This should concern every leader in our state.”
The release said that some of West Virginia’s core industries represented some of the highest job losses in the last year, including the hospitality industry, which lost 2,700 jobs last year, accounting for more than 60% of the job losses last year and nearly 4% of West Virginia’s hospitality workforce.
The West Virginia Chamber said that other notable losses included 600 jobs in the mining industry — accounting for 3% of the industry workforce — 200 manufacturing jobs and 600 jobs in the retail industry.
West Virginia has had 14 months of consecutive employment decline, according to the release.
In an interview with WOWK 13 News, Roberts said he believes the downward trend is closely linked to education.
“When we talk about putting money in for education, we’re investing in our state, we’re investing in ourselves and we’re investing in our children’s future, and from our point of view, our children are worth it. The data simply says that the best jobs are going to the best educated,” Roberts said.
“Just statistically, people who are better educated are earning higher incomes than people with less level of education. That is something we need to pay a great deal of attention to in West Virginia,” Roberts said.
The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is calling for greater investment in the state’s educational system to help build a stronger workforce and give students the tools they need to get a job.
He said the data tells the story.
Story by Sam Kirk & Savannah Young, WOWK 13 News