NAICS 44-45
Retail Trade in Wheeling, WV
Metro Market Score 61.5 (Difficult), ranked #270 of 378 metros. 535 establishments, 7,937 jobs.
Metro Market Assessment
Metro Market Score 61.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult
Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.
Market conditions for retail trade in Wheeling are tougher than average. The 61.5 market score reflects a combination of moderate wages, slowing employment, and an already crowded field. Rank: #270 of 378 metros.
Industry Concentration
89.4
LQ: 1.36
Rank #338 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
14.6
$34,179 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 25.4
Employment growth index
Rank #283 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
65.8
YoY wage change index
535 Retail Trade Firms in Wheeling
535
Establishments
-1.7% YoY
7,937
Total Employment
-1.7% YoY
$34,179
Average Annual Wage
+0.8% YoY
1.36
Location Quotient
Above national avg
Wheeling 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 | Wheeling | WV Statewide |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.5 Difficult | 52.8 Elevated |
| Score Type | Metro Market Score | Entry Risk Score |
| Rank | #270 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 Wheeling
Retail Trade in Other West Virginia Metros
Data Sources
- Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Wheeling, WV-OH MSA area.
Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.