West Virginia Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in West Virginia account for 10.07% of the total output in the state, employing 7.01% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $7.94 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 47,000 manufacturing employees in West Virginia in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $74,726.77 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$7.94
(Percent share of total gross state product)
10.07%
Manufacturing Firms in West Virginia (2017)
1,035

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
47,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
7.01%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$74,726.77
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$45,228.81

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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West Virginia Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive West Virginia’s economy, with $3.01 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $1.52 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 20.60% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 76.00% percent of all exporters in West Virginia.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2020)
$3.01
(Percent share of total goods exports)
65.82%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
18,014
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
20.60%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
76.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$1.52
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
50.59%
Canada
40.61%
China
11.30%
Belgium
6.16%
Japan
5.08%
Germany
4.53%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 48.3% ($659.49 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2019 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.