NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in West Virginia: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 52.8 (Elevated), ranked #47 of 51 states. 6,472 establishments, 77,986 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 52.8
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

The retail trade sector in West Virginia is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
49.0%
Percentile within industry
Rank #27 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
7.8
Scale of 0-100
Rank #50 of 51 states
Establishment Density
55.9
vs. national average
Rank #33 of 51 states
Market Volatility
9.3
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
29.3
Labor cost pressure

6,472 Establishments in West Virginia

6,472
Establishments
+0.9% YoY
77,986
Total Employment
+0.0% YoY
$35,130
Average Annual Wage
+2.4% YoY

West Virginia vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric WV National Difference
Entry Risk Score 52.8 44.6 +8.2
5-Year Retention 49.0% 51.0% -2.0
Growth Momentum 7.8 42.9 -35.1
Market Volatility 9.3 24.4 -15.1
Establishment Density 55.9 49.0 +6.9
Wage Pressure 29.3 30.5 -1.2

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

West Virginia Ranks #47 of 51 for Retail Trade

West Virginia ranks #47 out of 51 states for retail trade market entry conditions.

Retail Trade Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 33.3 moderate
#2 Nebraska 35.9 moderate
#3 Nevada 37.0 moderate
#4 Massachusetts 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska 37.2 moderate
#47 West Virginia You 52.8 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 37.2 · #5 Alabama — 46.4 · #36 Arkansas — 51.8 · #44 Arizona — 44.9 · #32 California — 44.0 · #28 Colorado — 42.9 · #23 Connecticut — 44.7 · #31 District of Columbia — 58.0 · #50 Delaware — 41.8 · #19 Florida — 51.0 · #43 Georgia — 47.5 · #38 Hawaii — 56.1 · #48 Iowa — 40.8 · #16 Idaho — 40.1 · #12 Illinois — 48.1 · #39 Indiana — 39.8 · #10 Kansas — 40.4 · #14 Kentucky — 46.4 · #36 Louisiana — 52.3 · #46 Massachusetts — 37.1 · #4 Maryland — 43.6 · #26 Maine — 44.1 · #29 Michigan — 40.5 · #15 Minnesota — 39.6 · #9 Missouri — 50.6 · #42 Mississippi — 59.2 · #51 Montana — 45.8 · #34 North Carolina — 43.4 · #25 North Dakota — 49.9 · #41 Nebraska — 35.9 · #2 New Hampshire — 48.7 · #40 New Jersey — 43.7 · #27 New Mexico — 39.9 · #11 Nevada — 37.0 · #3 New York — 57.2 · #49 Ohio — 39.2 · #8 Oklahoma — 46.3 · #35 Oregon — 42.9 · #24 Pennsylvania — 38.1 · #6 Rhode Island — 42.3 · #21 South Carolina — 44.3 · #30 South Dakota — 38.9 · #7 Tennessee — 42.8 · #22 Texas — 41.6 · #17 Utah — 40.3 · #13 Virginia — 41.6 · #17 Vermont — 52.1 · #45 Washington — 42.0 · #20 Wisconsin — 33.3 · #1 West Virginia — 52.8 · #47 Wyoming — 44.9 · #33
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 retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How West Virginia's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Pennsylvania 38.1 #6/51 Ohio 39.2 #8/51 Virginia 41.6 #17/51 Maryland 43.6 #26/51 Kentucky 46.4 #36/51

Other Industries in West Virginia

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → 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 →