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.

Best construction metro in West Virginia
Beckley 11.7 #1/342 nationwide · 291 firms

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

Construction in West Virginia Metro Areas

5 metro areas with construction data in West Virginia. Lower Metro Market Score = more favorable conditions.

Beckley 11.7 #1/342 · 291 firms Morgantown 34.9 #64/342 · 439 firms Wheeling 38.0 #85/342 · 288 firms Parkersburg-Vienna 41.4 #116/342 · 203 firms Charleston 54.2 #235/342 · 500 firms

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 →