Data / Rankings / Job destruction rate / Counties in West Virginia

Counties in West Virginia by job destruction rate

McDowell County had the highest job destruction rate of 55 counties in 2018, at 31.839%. Hancock County had the lowest, at 5.313%. The median was 11.12% and the figure for West Virginia was 11.002%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest31.839McDowell County
Lowest5.313Hancock County
Median11.1255 counties
West Virginia11.002History

Map of counties, 2018

Barbour County: 23.996 %Berkeley County: 9.118 %Boone County: 7.465 %Braxton County: 9.213 %Brooke County: 11.58 %Cabell County: 11.264 %Calhoun County: 15.481 %Clay County: 11.871 %Doddridge County: 10.432 %Fayette County: 10.352 %Gilmer County: 9.676 %Grant County: 7.848 %Greenbrier County: 9.078 %Hampshire County: 11.501 %Hancock County: 5.313 %Hardy County: 11.12 %Harrison County: 12.314 %Jackson County: 8.763 %Jefferson County: 8.017 %Kanawha County: 10.714 %Lewis County: 18.213 %Lincoln County: 16.8 %Logan County: 11.629 %McDowell County: 31.839 %Marion County: 15.072 %Marshall County: 8.22 %Mason County: 12.443 %Mercer County: 7.906 %Mineral County: 7.839 %Mingo County: 14.763 %Monongalia County: 12.41 %Monroe County: 9.725 %Morgan County: 7.353 %Nicholas County: 10.525 %Ohio County: 8.586 %Pendleton County: 9.923 %Pleasants County: 20.558 %Pocahontas County: 13.575 %Preston County: 11.317 %Putnam County: 11.726 %Raleigh County: 10.813 %Randolph County: 10.158 %Ritchie County: 12.776 %Roane County: 9.659 %Summers County: 14.41 %Taylor County: 6.97 %Tucker County: 12.839 %Tyler County: 23.302 %Upshur County: 8.162 %Wayne County: 14.981 %Webster County: 11.013 %Wetzel County: 9.553 %Wirt County: 15.679 %Wood County: 12.19 %Wyoming County: 13.756 %
  • Under 8.2
  • 8.2 to 9.7
  • 9.7 to 11
  • 11 to 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 and over
%, 2018. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2018

McDowell County: 31.839 %McDowell County31.839Barbour County: 23.996 %Barbour County23.996Tyler County: 23.302 %Tyler County23.302Pleasants County: 20.558 %Pleasants County20.558Lewis County: 18.213 %Lewis County18.213Lincoln County: 16.8 %Lincoln County16.8Wirt County: 15.679 %Wirt County15.679Calhoun County: 15.481 %Calhoun County15.481Marion County: 15.072 %Marion County15.072Wayne County: 14.981 %Wayne County14.981Mingo County: 14.763 %Mingo County14.763Summers County: 14.41 %Summers County14.41Wyoming County: 13.756 %Wyoming County13.756Pocahontas County: 13.575 %Pocahontas County13.575Tucker County: 12.839 %Tucker County12.839Ritchie County: 12.776 %Ritchie County12.776Mason County: 12.443 %Mason County12.443Monongalia County: 12.41 %Monongalia County12.41Harrison County: 12.314 %Harrison County12.314Wood County: 12.19 %Wood County12.19Clay County: 11.871 %Clay County11.871Putnam County: 11.726 %Putnam County11.726Logan County: 11.629 %Logan County11.629Brooke County: 11.58 %Brooke County11.58Hampshire County: 11.501 %Hampshire County11.501Preston County: 11.317 %Preston County11.317Cabell County: 11.264 %Cabell County11.264Hardy County: 11.12 %Hardy County11.12Webster County: 11.013 %Webster County11.013Raleigh County: 10.813 %Raleigh County10.813Kanawha County: 10.714 %Kanawha County10.714Nicholas County: 10.525 %Nicholas County10.525Doddridge County: 10.432 %Doddridge County10.432Fayette County: 10.352 %Fayette County10.352Randolph County: 10.158 %Randolph County10.158Pendleton County: 9.923 %Pendleton County9.923Monroe County: 9.725 %Monroe County9.725Gilmer County: 9.676 %Gilmer County9.676Roane County: 9.659 %Roane County9.659Wetzel County: 9.553 %Wetzel County9.553Braxton County: 9.213 %Braxton County9.213Berkeley County: 9.118 %Berkeley County9.118Greenbrier County: 9.078 %Greenbrier County9.078Jackson County: 8.763 %Jackson County8.763Ohio County: 8.586 %Ohio County8.586Marshall County: 8.22 %Marshall County8.22Upshur County: 8.162 %Upshur County8.162Jefferson County: 8.017 %Jefferson County8.017Mercer County: 7.906 %Mercer County7.906Grant County: 7.848 %Grant County7.848Mineral County: 7.839 %Mineral County7.839Boone County: 7.465 %Boone County7.465Morgan County: 7.353 %Morgan County7.353Taylor County: 6.97 %Taylor County6.97Hancock County: 5.313 %Hancock County5.313McDowell County: 31.839 %McDowell County31.839Barbour County: 23.996 %Barbour County23.996Tyler County: 23.302 %Tyler County23.302Pleasants County: 20.558 %Pleasants County20.558Lewis County: 18.213 %Lewis County18.213Lincoln County: 16.8 %Lincoln County16.8Wirt County: 15.679 %Wirt County15.679Calhoun County: 15.481 %Calhoun County15.481Marion County: 15.072 %Marion County15.072Wayne County: 14.981 %Wayne County14.981Mingo County: 14.763 %Mingo County14.763Summers County: 14.41 %Summers County14.41Wyoming County: 13.756 %Wyoming County13.756Pocahontas County: 13.575 %Pocahontas County13.575Tucker County: 12.839 %Tucker County12.839Ritchie County: 12.776 %Ritchie County12.776Mason County: 12.443 %Mason County12.443Monongalia County: 12.41 %Monongalia County12.41Harrison County: 12.314 %Harrison County12.314Wood County: 12.19 %Wood County12.19Clay County: 11.871 %Clay County11.871Putnam County: 11.726 %Putnam County11.726Logan County: 11.629 %Logan County11.629Brooke County: 11.58 %Brooke County11.58Hampshire County: 11.501 %Hampshire County11.501Preston County: 11.317 %Preston County11.317Cabell County: 11.264 %Cabell County11.264Hardy County: 11.12 %Hardy County11.12Webster County: 11.013 %Webster County11.013Raleigh County: 10.813 %Raleigh County10.813Kanawha County: 10.714 %Kanawha County10.714Nicholas County: 10.525 %Nicholas County10.525Doddridge County: 10.432 %Doddridge County10.432Fayette County: 10.352 %Fayette County10.352Randolph County: 10.158 %Randolph County10.158Pendleton County: 9.923 %Pendleton County9.923Monroe County: 9.725 %Monroe County9.725Gilmer County: 9.676 %Gilmer County9.676Roane County: 9.659 %Roane County9.659Wetzel County: 9.553 %Wetzel County9.553Braxton County: 9.213 %Braxton County9.213Berkeley County: 9.118 %Berkeley County9.118Greenbrier County: 9.078 %Greenbrier County9.078Jackson County: 8.763 %Jackson County8.763Ohio County: 8.586 %Ohio County8.586Marshall County: 8.22 %Marshall County8.22Upshur County: 8.162 %Upshur County8.162Jefferson County: 8.017 %Jefferson County8.017Mercer County: 7.906 %Mercer County7.906Grant County: 7.848 %Grant County7.848Mineral County: 7.839 %Mineral County7.839Boone County: 7.465 %Boone County7.465Morgan County: 7.353 %Morgan County7.353Taylor County: 6.97 %Taylor County6.97Hancock County: 5.313 %Hancock County5.313
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2018 (%)Change on 2017
1McDowell County31.839+7.6 pts
2Barbour County23.996+15.41 pts
3Tyler County23.302-6.45 pts
4Pleasants County20.558-2.7 pts
5Lewis County18.213-1.07 pts
6Lincoln County16.8+7.28 pts
7Wirt County15.679-19.61 pts
8Calhoun County15.481+9.08 pts
9Marion County15.072-0.93 pts
10Wayne County14.981-1.35 pts
11Mingo County14.763+2.5 pts
12Summers County14.41+0.87 pts
13Wyoming County13.756-1.03 pts
14Pocahontas County13.575+6.58 pts
15Tucker County12.839+2.04 pts
16Ritchie County12.776-12.37 pts
17Mason County12.443+3.46 pts
18Monongalia County12.41+2.14 pts
19Harrison County12.314+1.02 pts
20Wood County12.19-1.09 pts
21Clay County11.871-0.17 pts
22Putnam County11.726-2.42 pts
23Logan County11.629-3.98 pts
24Brooke County11.58-1.02 pts
25Hampshire County11.501-0.53 pts
26Preston County11.317+2.66 pts
27Cabell County11.264+1.53 pts
28Hardy County11.12+6.24 pts
29Webster County11.013-0.12 pts
30Raleigh County10.813-4.22 pts
31Kanawha County10.714-4.97 pts
32Nicholas County10.525-3.28 pts
33Doddridge County10.432-1.72 pts
34Fayette County10.352-4.28 pts
35Randolph County10.158+0.24 pts
36Pendleton County9.923-1.02 pts
37Monroe County9.725+1.46 pts
38Gilmer County9.676-6.1 pts
39Roane County9.659+1.07 pts
40Wetzel County9.553-2.75 pts
41Braxton County9.213-7.77 pts
42Berkeley County9.118-2.06 pts
43Greenbrier County9.078-2.4 pts
44Jackson County8.763-2.7 pts
45Ohio County8.586-2.85 pts
46Marshall County8.22-1.85 pts
47Upshur County8.162-5.38 pts
48Jefferson County8.017-0.35 pts
49Mercer County7.906-3.78 pts
50Grant County7.848-2.44 pts
51Mineral County7.839-1.12 pts
52Boone County7.465-14.71 pts
53Morgan County7.353-1.47 pts
54Taylor County6.97-3.11 pts
55Hancock County5.313-5.18 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Jobs lost at closing and shrinking establishments during the year, as a percentage of average employment in the two years. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics.

A gross flow: jobs added elsewhere are not subtracted, so the net change is job_creation_rate minus this rate. Not a layoff rate: it counts positions lost at establishments, not people who lost a job. The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

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. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.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. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (Counties in West Virginia by job destruction rate, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in West Virginia by job destruction rate, 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Counties in West Virginia by job destruction rate, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in West Virginia by job destruction rate, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2018,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in West Virginia by job destruction rate, 2018}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2018. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in West Virginia by job destruction rate, 2018
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/job-destruction-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2018.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest job destruction rate?

McDowell County, with 31.839% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest job destruction rate?

Hancock County, with 5.313% in 2018.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job destruction rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Job destruction rate: other rankings

Counties in West Virginia: more rankings