NAICS 52

Finance and Insurance in West Virginia: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 39.8 (Moderate), ranked #2 of 51 states. 3,047 establishments, 18,888 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 39.8
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national finance and insurance average.

🛡️Stable Market

West Virginia exhibits structural stability in finance and insurance, with volatility at 6.9 and firm retention ranking in the top 5. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
94.1%
Percentile within industry
Rank #4 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
13.7
Scale of 0-100
Rank #40 of 51 states
Establishment Density
26.7
vs. national average
Rank #17 of 51 states
Market Volatility
6.9
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
64.4
Labor cost pressure

3,047 Establishments in West Virginia

3,047
Establishments
+3.9% YoY
18,888
Total Employment
+0.3% YoY
$73,945
Average Annual Wage
+5.4% YoY

West Virginia vs National Finance and Insurance Average

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

Metric WV National Difference
Entry Risk Score 39.8 51.9 -12.1
5-Year Retention 94.1% 51.0% +43.1
Growth Momentum 13.7 34.4 -20.7
Market Volatility 6.9 9.6 -2.7
Establishment Density 26.7 42.5 -15.8
Wage Pressure 64.4 66.8 -2.4

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within finance and insurance only.

West Virginia Ranks #2 of 51 for Finance and Insurance

West Virginia ranks #2 out of 51 states for finance and insurance market entry conditions.

Finance and Insurance Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Hawaii 37.0 moderate
#2 West Virginia You 39.8 moderate
#3 Kentucky 40.0 moderate
#4 Rhode Island 41.9 moderate
#5 Maine 42.0 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 49.7 · #21 Alabama — 48.4 · #18 Arkansas — 44.7 · #7 Arizona — 52.6 · #29 California — 46.9 · #12 Colorado — 67.3 · #50 Connecticut — 73.7 · #51 District of Columbia — 47.9 · #13 Delaware — 57.7 · #44 Florida — 61.9 · #46 Georgia — 56.4 · #40 Hawaii — 37.0 · #1 Iowa — 54.3 · #35 Idaho — 56.2 · #39 Illinois — 46.2 · #10 Indiana — 45.4 · #9 Kansas — 57.0 · #42 Kentucky — 40.0 · #3 Louisiana — 42.0 · #6 Massachusetts — 48.2 · #15 Maryland — 52.6 · #30 Maine — 42.0 · #5 Michigan — 49.8 · #23 Minnesota — 46.6 · #11 Missouri — 57.7 · #43 Mississippi — 54.5 · #36 Montana — 59.0 · #45 North Carolina — 48.4 · #17 North Dakota — 52.1 · #28 Nebraska — 49.4 · #20 New Hampshire — 49.8 · #22 New Jersey — 53.2 · #32 New Mexico — 53.1 · #31 Nevada — 55.6 · #38 New York — 65.4 · #49 Ohio — 48.2 · #14 Oklahoma — 64.9 · #48 Oregon — 56.7 · #41 Pennsylvania — 48.8 · #19 Rhode Island — 41.9 · #4 South Carolina — 48.4 · #16 South Dakota — 50.1 · #24 Tennessee — 53.4 · #33 Texas — 50.4 · #25 Utah — 51.9 · #27 Virginia — 50.8 · #26 Vermont — 53.6 · #34 Washington — 55.5 · #37 Wisconsin — 45.3 · #8 West Virginia — 39.8 · #2 Wyoming — 62.0 · #47
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 finance and insurance?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Finance and Insurance in Neighboring States

How West Virginia's finance and insurance market compares to bordering states.

Kentucky 40.0 #3/51 Ohio 48.2 #14/51 Pennsylvania 48.8 #19/51 Virginia 50.8 #26/51 Maryland 52.6 #30/51

Other Industries in West Virginia

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