Employment declined 0.4 percent in Kanawha, the only large county in West Virginia, from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. West Virginia employment decreased 0.4 percent over the year to 693,300 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Lori Keller noted that the rate of employment growth in Kanawha ranked 205th among the 371 largest U.S. counties with published data.

Employment in Kanawha stood at 96,300 in March 2026, accounting for 13.9 percent of total employment in West Virginia. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)

The average weekly wage in Kanawha increased 1.6 percent over the year to $1,268. The national average was $1,654, up 3.9 percent over the year. Kanawha’s weekly wage ranked 266th nationally, and the percent change ranked 320th among the largest U.S. counties.

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 3.4 percent over the year to $1,188. West Virginia ranked 50th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 32nd in wage growth.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 54 smaller counties in West Virginia, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Mason reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,479) in the state. Summers reported the lowest average weekly wage ($793) in the state.

Among all 55 West Virginia counties, 10 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 12 registered wages from $900 to $999, 9 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 13 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 11 had average weekly wages of $1,200 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)