RANKING · 2024 ACS · 31 SHOWN OF 31

Most unemployed people, West Virginia cities

West Virginia cities with the most unemployed people in the civilian labor force, as of the 2024 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the unemployment rate. This list covers the 31 cities in West Virginia that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 31 is 186. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Nitro, WV, up 10 places to #17.

West VirginiaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYED RESIDENTSVS 2020

01▲1Huntington, WVWV44,8151,497+1%

02▲2Charleston, WVWV46,1171,487+18%

03▲2Parkersburg, WVWV28,5931,065+21%

04▼3Morgantown, WVWV30,2931,005−43%

05▲1Wheeling, WVWV25,6807990%

06▲1Weirton, WVWV18,133669−14%

07▲1Fairmont, WVWV18,035665+7%

08▼5Martinsburg, WVWV19,211514−59%

09▲1South Charleston, WVWV13,072487+17%

10▼1Clarksburg, WVWV15,562304−30%

11▲6St. Albans, WVWV10,210248−16%

12▲4Charles, WVWV9,329242−19%

13▲7Elkins, WVWV6,622231−2%

14▼2Beckley, WVWV16,373218−36%

15▼2Brookhaven, WVWV6,212216−37%

16▼5Bluefield, WVWV9,158186−53%

17▲10Nitro, WVWV6,270183+6%

18▼3Cross Lanes, WVWV9,671183−44%

19▼5Vienna, WVWV10,321181−45%

20▼2Oak Hill, WVWV7,629164−44%

21▼2Teays Valley, WVWV14,151139−49%

22▲9Cheat Lake, WVWV10,902134+86%

23▲7Hurricane, WVWV7,367128+56%

24▼2New Martinsville, WVWV5,039118−42%

25▲3Bridgeport, WVWV9,427113−21%

26Moundsville, WVWV7,659107−39%

27▼2Buckhannon, WVWV5,05496−45%

28▼5Pea Ridge, WVWV6,98890−50%

29▼5Ranson corporation, WVWV6,85388−50%

30▼1Dunbar, WVWV7,05070−44%

31▼10Princeton, WVWV5,57843−80%

SHOWING 1–31 OF 31

Download CSV (full list, 31 rows)

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES