Chamber of Commerce calls ongoing workforce decline in West Virginia ‘a warning sign’
August 18, 2025
WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce has called a continuing decline in the state’s labor force and overall employment “a warning sign.”
The concerns come following the July 2025 jobs report from WorkForce West Virginia that showed a civilian workforce decline from 787,600 in July 2024 to 780,000 in July 2025, according to a news release from the chamber of commerce.
Total employment also fell during that period, from 755,300 to 750,900, the news release said.
While private sector employment showed a modest increase, from 565,900 in 2024 to 567,500 in 2025, key industries that have traditionally anchored the state saw 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 in the news release. “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 said this is the 14th consecutive month of employment decline in West Virginia, even as many neighboring states report job growth and economic expansion, the news release said.
Story by Shannon Stowers, WCHS