NAICS 23

Construction in Charleston, WV

Metro Market Score 54.2 (Challenging), ranked #235 of 342 metros. 500 establishments, 4,259 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 54.2
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

Charleston's construction sector saw employment decline over the past year (growth trend: 14.0). That contraction, combined with a 54.2 market score, puts this metro in the lower half for market conditions. Understand why the local market is shrinking before committing.

Industry Concentration
19.9
LQ: 0.78
Rank #68 of 342 metros
Wage Competitiveness
66.4
$76,257 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 14.0
Employment growth index
Rank #295 of 342 metros
Wage Pressure
34.2
YoY wage change index

500 Construction Firms in Charleston

500
Establishments
+3.7% YoY
4,259
Total Employment
-2.9% YoY
$76,257
Average Annual Wage
+4.6% YoY
0.78
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Charleston vs West Virginia Statewide

How this metro's construction market compares to West Virginia overall. The state ranks #35/51 for entry risk.

Measure Charleston WV Statewide
Overall Score 54.2 Challenging 49.5 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #235 of 342 metros #35 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Charleston

Retail Trade 50.0 Other Services 62.1

Construction in Other West Virginia Metros

Beckley 11.7 #1/342 Morgantown 34.9 #64/342 Wheeling 38.0 #85/342 Parkersburg-Vienna 41.4 #116/342

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Charleston's construction sector, the employment growth component (86.0) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.