NAICS 51

Information in West Virginia: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 37.3 (Moderate), ranked #11 of 51 states. 1,373 establishments, 7,807 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 37.3
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

🛡️Stable Market

West Virginia exhibits structural stability in information, with volatility at 30.9 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
16.5
Scale of 0-100
Rank #44 of 51 states
Establishment Density
9.0
vs. national average
Rank #14 of 51 states
Market Volatility
30.9
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
39.3
Labor cost pressure

1,373 Establishments in West Virginia

1,373
Establishments
+9.0% YoY
7,807
Total Employment
-1.1% YoY
$74,981
Average Annual Wage
+8.3% YoY

West Virginia vs National Information Average

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

Metric WV National Difference
Entry Risk Score 37.3 43.6 -6.3
5-Year Retention 94.1% 51.0% +43.1
Growth Momentum 16.5 34.6 -18.1
Market Volatility 30.9 24.1 +6.8
Establishment Density 9.0 18.3 -9.3
Wage Pressure 39.3 41.8 -2.5

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

West Virginia Ranks #11 of 51 for Information

West Virginia ranks #11 out of 51 states for information market entry conditions.

Information Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 North Dakota 28.8 low
#2 Arkansas 30.0 moderate
#3 Alaska 31.5 moderate
#4 Pennsylvania 31.8 moderate
#5 Alabama 32.1 moderate
#11 West Virginia You 37.3 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 31.5 · #3 Alabama — 32.1 · #5 Arkansas — 30.0 · #2 Arizona — 49.2 · #41 California — 56.6 · #51 Colorado — 46.7 · #31 Connecticut — 54.5 · #47 District of Columbia — 51.0 · #43 Delaware — 48.0 · #36 Florida — 46.5 · #30 Georgia — 48.9 · #39 Hawaii — 55.2 · #48 Iowa — 38.3 · #15 Idaho — 43.8 · #24 Illinois — 48.5 · #38 Indiana — 40.2 · #19 Kansas — 37.6 · #12 Kentucky — 32.6 · #6 Louisiana — 51.7 · #44 Massachusetts — 40.2 · #17 Maryland — 48.9 · #40 Maine — 44.1 · #25 Michigan — 47.2 · #32 Minnesota — 42.6 · #22 Missouri — 36.8 · #10 Mississippi — 43.1 · #23 Montana — 33.2 · #7 North Carolina — 45.3 · #28 North Dakota — 28.8 · #1 Nebraska — 37.8 · #13 New Hampshire — 47.8 · #35 New Jersey — 52.0 · #46 New Mexico — 47.7 · #34 Nevada — 56.3 · #50 New York — 50.5 · #42 Ohio — 44.4 · #26 Oklahoma — 40.2 · #18 Oregon — 52.0 · #45 Pennsylvania — 31.8 · #4 Rhode Island — 39.9 · #16 South Carolina — 46.3 · #29 South Dakota — 33.6 · #8 Tennessee — 48.1 · #37 Texas — 41.5 · #20 Utah — 47.4 · #33 Virginia — 36.2 · #9 Vermont — 45.1 · #27 Washington — 55.7 · #49 Wisconsin — 38.1 · #14 West Virginia — 37.3 · #11 Wyoming — 42.2 · #21
Low Moderate Elevated High

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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 information?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Information in Neighboring States

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

Pennsylvania 31.8 #4/51 Kentucky 32.6 #6/51 Virginia 36.2 #9/51 Ohio 44.4 #26/51 Maryland 48.9 #40/51

Other Industries in West Virginia

Construction → 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 → Other Services →