NAICS 23

Construction in West Virginia: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 49.5 (Elevated), ranked #35 of 51 states. 4,704 establishments, 33,672 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 49.5
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

The construction sector in West Virginia shows signs of market maturation: momentum index at 37.7 (top 15) combined with below-average firm retention (bottom 5). Net establishment formation is likely flat or negative.

5-Year Firm Retention
5.9%
Percentile within industry
Rank #49 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
37.7
Scale of 0-100
Rank #14 of 51 states
Establishment Density
11.9
vs. national average
Rank #19 of 51 states
Market Volatility
19.7
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
28.8
Labor cost pressure

4,704 Establishments in West Virginia

4,704
Establishments
+1.9% YoY
33,672
Total Employment
+2.1% YoY
$70,142
Average Annual Wage
+3.3% YoY

West Virginia vs National Construction Average

How West Virginia's construction market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric WV National Difference
Entry Risk Score 49.5 44.2 +5.3
5-Year Retention 5.9% 51.0% -45.1
Growth Momentum 37.7 30.9 +6.8
Market Volatility 19.7 20.9 -1.2
Establishment Density 11.9 24.6 -12.7
Wage Pressure 28.8 57.1 -28.4

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within construction only.

West Virginia Ranks #35 of 51 for Construction

West Virginia ranks #35 out of 51 states for construction market entry conditions.

Construction Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 25.1 low
#2 Michigan 28.0 low
#3 Pennsylvania 28.4 low
#4 Alabama 30.3 moderate
#5 Nebraska 32.5 moderate
#35 West Virginia You 49.5 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 60.9 · #50 Alabama — 30.3 · #4 Arkansas — 34.3 · #8 Arizona — 38.6 · #16 California — 47.8 · #32 Colorado — 53.2 · #40 Connecticut — 43.2 · #27 District of Columbia — 56.9 · #45 Delaware — 43.0 · #26 Florida — 54.5 · #42 Georgia — 42.1 · #25 Hawaii — 61.1 · #51 Iowa — 34.3 · #7 Idaho — 58.4 · #48 Illinois — 49.1 · #34 Indiana — 35.0 · #11 Kansas — 51.5 · #38 Kentucky — 39.8 · #19 Louisiana — 53.6 · #41 Massachusetts — 41.5 · #23 Maryland — 35.0 · #12 Maine — 35.5 · #13 Michigan — 28.0 · #2 Minnesota — 37.3 · #14 Missouri — 54.6 · #43 Mississippi — 50.8 · #36 Montana — 45.0 · #28 North Carolina — 38.2 · #15 North Dakota — 58.3 · #47 Nebraska — 32.5 · #5 New Hampshire — 32.6 · #6 New Jersey — 48.3 · #33 New Mexico — 47.4 · #31 Nevada — 39.8 · #20 New York — 51.1 · #37 Ohio — 41.7 · #24 Oklahoma — 52.2 · #39 Oregon — 54.8 · #44 Pennsylvania — 28.4 · #3 Rhode Island — 38.8 · #17 South Carolina — 47.0 · #30 South Dakota — 34.7 · #9 Tennessee — 34.8 · #10 Texas — 46.3 · #29 Utah — 40.1 · #22 Virginia — 39.0 · #18 Vermont — 40.0 · #21 Washington — 58.1 · #46 Wisconsin — 25.1 · #1 West Virginia — 49.5 · #35 Wyoming — 59.3 · #49
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does West Virginia stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How West Virginia's construction market compares to bordering states.

Pennsylvania 28.4 #3/51 Maryland 35.0 #12/51 Virginia 39.0 #18/51 Kentucky 39.8 #19/51 Ohio 41.7 #24/51

Other Industries in West Virginia

Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →