Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in West Virginia

Manufacturing contributed $8.9B to West Virginia's economy in 2025 (8.1% of the state's GDP), ranking West Virginia #39 of 51 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output fell 0.6% year over year (+0.5% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is chemical products ($3.0B in 2024).

Output and rank

  • Manufacturing GDP: $8.9B in 2025, #39 of 51 states and DC.
  • Share of the state economy: 8.1% of West Virginia's GDP.
  • Growth: -0.6% year over year (+0.5% after inflation).
  • Composition: $4.3B durable goods, $4.5B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in West Virginia

  • Chemical Products: $3.0B (2024)
  • Motor Vehicles and Parts: $982M (2024)
  • Primary Metals: $807M (2024)

Frequently asked questions

  • How big is manufacturing in West Virginia? Manufacturing contributed $8.9B to West Virginia's economy in 2025, ranking #39 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
  • What share of West Virginia's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 8.1% of West Virginia's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% of GDP, so West Virginia is less manufacturing-intensive than the national average.
  • What is the largest manufacturing industry in West Virginia? Chemical Products leads at $3.0B (2024), followed by motor vehicles and parts ($982M) and primary metals ($807M), per BEA state GDP by industry.
  • Is manufacturing in West Virginia growing? West Virginia's manufacturing GDP is down 0.6% year over year in dollar terms and up 0.5% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
  • Does West Virginia make more durable or nondurable goods? Nondurable goods lead in West Virginia: $4.5B versus $4.3B of value added in 2025.

About this data

  • Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (public domain). National quarterly values are seasonally adjusted annual rates. Corporate-profit industry detail reflects inventory valuation adjustment without capital consumption adjustment, per NIPA table 6.16D conventions.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.