NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Huntington-Ashland, WV

Metro Market Score 32.4 (Favorable), ranked #12 of 378 metros. 1,401 establishments, 16,334 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 32.4
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

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

📈Rapid Growth

Huntington-Ashland ranks in the top 10% for retail trade market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 32.4, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
59.0
LQ: 1.18
Rank #223 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
10.3
$33,661 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 95.8
Employment growth index
Rank #17 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
68.9
YoY wage change index

1,401 Retail Trade Firms in Huntington-Ashland

1,401
Establishments
+10.8% YoY
16,334
Total Employment
+6.2% YoY
$33,661
Average Annual Wage
+1.4% YoY
1.18
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Huntington-Ashland vs West Virginia Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to West Virginia overall. The state ranks #47/51 for entry risk.

Measure Huntington-Ashland WV Statewide
Overall Score 32.4 Favorable 52.8 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #12 of 378 metros #47 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 Huntington-Ashland

Finance and Insurance 28.8 Other Services 33.2 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 37.0 Administrative and Support Services 46.0

Retail Trade in Other West Virginia Metros

Morgantown 31.9 #10/378 Charleston 50.0 #140/378 Beckley 54.2 #191/378 Weirton-Steubenville 55.8 #207/378 Parkersburg-Vienna 59.2 #245/378 Wheeling 61.5 #270/378

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 Huntington-Ashland's retail trade sector, the industry concentration component (59.0) 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.