Counties in West Virginia by covered employment (QCEW)

Kanawha County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 55 counties in 2022, at 92,977 jobs. Wirt County had the lowest, at 720 jobs. The median was 5,353 jobs and the figure for West Virginia was 673,782 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest92,977Kanawha County
Lowest720Wirt County
Median5,35355 counties
West Virginia673,782History

Map of counties, 2022

Barbour County: 3,896 jobsBerkeley County: 35,965 jobsBoone County: 4,365 jobsBraxton County: 3,623 jobsBrooke County: 7,005 jobsCabell County: 49,882 jobsCalhoun County: 1,130 jobsClay County: 1,374 jobsDoddridge County: 1,428 jobsFayette County: 9,986 jobsGilmer County: 1,764 jobsGrant County: 3,360 jobsGreenbrier County: 12,270 jobsHampshire County: 3,854 jobsHancock County: 9,116 jobsHardy County: 5,506 jobsHarrison County: 35,745 jobsJackson County: 7,613 jobsJefferson County: 15,210 jobsKanawha County: 92,977 jobsLewis County: 5,414 jobsLincoln County: 2,258 jobsLogan County: 10,032 jobsMcDowell County: 3,850 jobsMarion County: 16,772 jobsMarshall County: 10,762 jobsMason County: 5,353 jobsMercer County: 18,097 jobsMineral County: 8,286 jobsMingo County: 4,683 jobsMonongalia County: 56,776 jobsMonroe County: 1,936 jobsMorgan County: 2,915 jobsNicholas County: 6,827 jobsOhio County: 26,312 jobsPendleton County: 1,488 jobsPleasants County: 2,501 jobsPocahontas County: 3,105 jobsPreston County: 7,164 jobsPutnam County: 20,410 jobsRaleigh County: 30,306 jobsRandolph County: 10,413 jobsRitchie County: 3,034 jobsRoane County: 2,993 jobsSummers County: 2,334 jobsTaylor County: 3,188 jobsTucker County: 2,807 jobsTyler County: 1,939 jobsUpshur County: 7,364 jobsWayne County: 8,192 jobsWebster County: 1,549 jobsWetzel County: 4,294 jobsWirt County: 720 jobsWood County: 34,448 jobsWyoming County: 4,463 jobs
  • Under 2,300
  • 2,300 to 3,400
  • 3,400 to 5,400
  • 5,400 to 8,300
  • 8,300 to 18K
  • 18K and over
jobs, 2022. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2022

Kanawha County: 92,977 jobsKanawha County92,977Monongalia County: 56,776 jobsMonongalia County56,776Cabell County: 49,882 jobsCabell County49,882Berkeley County: 35,965 jobsBerkeley County35,965Harrison County: 35,745 jobsHarrison County35,745Wood County: 34,448 jobsWood County34,448Raleigh County: 30,306 jobsRaleigh County30,306Ohio County: 26,312 jobsOhio County26,312Putnam County: 20,410 jobsPutnam County20,410Mercer County: 18,097 jobsMercer County18,097Marion County: 16,772 jobsMarion County16,772Jefferson County: 15,210 jobsJefferson County15,210Greenbrier County: 12,270 jobsGreenbrier County12,270Marshall County: 10,762 jobsMarshall County10,762Randolph County: 10,413 jobsRandolph County10,413Logan County: 10,032 jobsLogan County10,032Fayette County: 9,986 jobsFayette County9,986Hancock County: 9,116 jobsHancock County9,116Mineral County: 8,286 jobsMineral County8,286Wayne County: 8,192 jobsWayne County8,192Jackson County: 7,613 jobsJackson County7,613Upshur County: 7,364 jobsUpshur County7,364Preston County: 7,164 jobsPreston County7,164Brooke County: 7,005 jobsBrooke County7,005Nicholas County: 6,827 jobsNicholas County6,827Hardy County: 5,506 jobsHardy County5,506Lewis County: 5,414 jobsLewis County5,414Mason County: 5,353 jobsMason County5,353Mingo County: 4,683 jobsMingo County4,683Wyoming County: 4,463 jobsWyoming County4,463Boone County: 4,365 jobsBoone County4,365Wetzel County: 4,294 jobsWetzel County4,294Barbour County: 3,896 jobsBarbour County3,896Hampshire County: 3,854 jobsHampshire County3,854McDowell County: 3,850 jobsMcDowell County3,850Braxton County: 3,623 jobsBraxton County3,623Grant County: 3,360 jobsGrant County3,360Taylor County: 3,188 jobsTaylor County3,188Pocahontas County: 3,105 jobsPocahontas County3,105Ritchie County: 3,034 jobsRitchie County3,034Roane County: 2,993 jobsRoane County2,993Morgan County: 2,915 jobsMorgan County2,915Tucker County: 2,807 jobsTucker County2,807Pleasants County: 2,501 jobsPleasants County2,501Summers County: 2,334 jobsSummers County2,334Lincoln County: 2,258 jobsLincoln County2,258Tyler County: 1,939 jobsTyler County1,939Monroe County: 1,936 jobsMonroe County1,936Gilmer County: 1,764 jobsGilmer County1,764Webster County: 1,549 jobsWebster County1,549Pendleton County: 1,488 jobsPendleton County1,488Doddridge County: 1,428 jobsDoddridge County1,428Clay County: 1,374 jobsClay County1,374Calhoun County: 1,130 jobsCalhoun County1,130Wirt County: 720 jobsWirt County720Kanawha County: 92,977 jobsKanawha County92,977Monongalia County: 56,776 jobsMonongalia County56,776Cabell County: 49,882 jobsCabell County49,882Berkeley County: 35,965 jobsBerkeley County35,965Harrison County: 35,745 jobsHarrison County35,745Wood County: 34,448 jobsWood County34,448Raleigh County: 30,306 jobsRaleigh County30,306Ohio County: 26,312 jobsOhio County26,312Putnam County: 20,410 jobsPutnam County20,410Mercer County: 18,097 jobsMercer County18,097Marion County: 16,772 jobsMarion County16,772Jefferson County: 15,210 jobsJefferson County15,210Greenbrier County: 12,270 jobsGreenbrier County12,270Marshall County: 10,762 jobsMarshall County10,762Randolph County: 10,413 jobsRandolph County10,413Logan County: 10,032 jobsLogan County10,032Fayette County: 9,986 jobsFayette County9,986Hancock County: 9,116 jobsHancock County9,116Mineral County: 8,286 jobsMineral County8,286Wayne County: 8,192 jobsWayne County8,192Jackson County: 7,613 jobsJackson County7,613Upshur County: 7,364 jobsUpshur County7,364Preston County: 7,164 jobsPreston County7,164Brooke County: 7,005 jobsBrooke County7,005Nicholas County: 6,827 jobsNicholas County6,827Hardy County: 5,506 jobsHardy County5,506Lewis County: 5,414 jobsLewis County5,414Mason County: 5,353 jobsMason County5,353Mingo County: 4,683 jobsMingo County4,683Wyoming County: 4,463 jobsWyoming County4,463Boone County: 4,365 jobsBoone County4,365Wetzel County: 4,294 jobsWetzel County4,294Barbour County: 3,896 jobsBarbour County3,896Hampshire County: 3,854 jobsHampshire County3,854McDowell County: 3,850 jobsMcDowell County3,850Braxton County: 3,623 jobsBraxton County3,623Grant County: 3,360 jobsGrant County3,360Taylor County: 3,188 jobsTaylor County3,188Pocahontas County: 3,105 jobsPocahontas County3,105Ritchie County: 3,034 jobsRitchie County3,034Roane County: 2,993 jobsRoane County2,993Morgan County: 2,915 jobsMorgan County2,915Tucker County: 2,807 jobsTucker County2,807Pleasants County: 2,501 jobsPleasants County2,501Summers County: 2,334 jobsSummers County2,334Lincoln County: 2,258 jobsLincoln County2,258Tyler County: 1,939 jobsTyler County1,939Monroe County: 1,936 jobsMonroe County1,936Gilmer County: 1,764 jobsGilmer County1,764Webster County: 1,549 jobsWebster County1,549Pendleton County: 1,488 jobsPendleton County1,488Doddridge County: 1,428 jobsDoddridge County1,428Clay County: 1,374 jobsClay County1,374Calhoun County: 1,130 jobsCalhoun County1,130Wirt County: 720 jobsWirt County720
jobs. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2022
jobs
Change on 2021
1Kanawha County92,977+1.7%
2Monongalia County56,776+1.9%
3Cabell County49,882+0.4%
4Berkeley County35,965+1.7%
5Harrison County35,745+2.3%
6Wood County34,448+2.5%
7Raleigh County30,306+1.7%
8Ohio County26,312-0.7%
9Putnam County20,410+4.6%
10Mercer County18,097+1.5%
11Marion County16,772+1.7%
12Jefferson County15,210+2.2%
13Greenbrier County12,270-1.1%
14Marshall County10,762+4.9%
15Randolph County10,413-0.7%
16Logan County10,032+3.6%
17Fayette County9,986+1.4%
18Hancock County9,116+6%
19Mineral County8,286+4.2%
20Wayne County8,192+3%
21Jackson County7,613+2.2%
22Upshur County7,364+2.1%
23Preston County7,164+0.2%
24Brooke County7,005-2.7%
25Nicholas County6,827+1.4%
26Hardy County5,506+1.9%
27Lewis County5,414+3.9%
28Mason County5,353-2.2%
29Mingo County4,683+16%
30Wyoming County4,463+4.6%
31Boone County4,365+0.6%
32Wetzel County4,294+0.1%
33Barbour County3,896+4.4%
34Hampshire County3,854+3.5%
35McDowell County3,850-2.5%
36Braxton County3,623+2.4%
37Grant County3,360+0.1%
38Taylor County3,188+2.9%
39Pocahontas County3,105+2.2%
40Ritchie County3,034-1.6%
41Roane County2,993+7.1%
42Morgan County2,915+1.4%
43Tucker County2,807+9.6%
44Pleasants County2,501+5.7%
45Summers County2,334+6%
46Lincoln County2,258+2.3%
47Tyler County1,939+9.9%
48Monroe County1,936+4.2%
49Gilmer County1,764-0.2%
50Webster County1,549+0.7%
51Pendleton County1,488+1%
52Doddridge County1,428-7.8%
53Clay County1,374+3.5%
54Calhoun County1,130+2%
55Wirt County720-19.2%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools. A count of employer reports, not a survey estimate like oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in West Virginia by covered employment (QCEW), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in West Virginia by covered employment (QCEW), 2022. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/west-virginia-counties?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in West Virginia by covered employment (QCEW), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/west-virginia-counties?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in West Virginia by covered employment (QCEW), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/west-virginia-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_west_virginia_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in West Virginia by covered employment (QCEW), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/west-virginia-counties?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in West Virginia by covered employment (QCEW), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/west-virginia-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/west-virginia-counties?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

Kanawha County, with 92,977 jobs in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Wirt County, with 720 jobs in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Covered employment (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in West Virginia: more rankings