Kanawha County Income Charts

This section shows the Kanawha County West Virginia economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Kanawha County depicts it has a Median earnings of $44,263 which is the third most median earnings of all other counties in the greater Kanawha County region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Putnam County which shows a median earnings of $54,586 (23.3% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Kanawha County is about 20.3% smaller. Also, in comparison with the state of West Virginia, median earnings per worker of $44,509, Kanawha County is about the same size.

In Figure 2 a more complete view of income is shown which aggregates income from all members in the household and it has a Median household income of $50,574 which is the third most median income of all other counties in the greater Kanawha County region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Putnam County which depicts a median income of $68,740 (35.9% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Kanawha County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of West Virginia, median household income of $50,884, Kanawha County is about the same size.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 39.2 which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Boone County which depicts an average hours of 40.8 (only about 4.1% larger). Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $21.71 which is the second most average hourly earnings of all the counties in the greater Kanawha County region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Putnam County which shows an average hourly earnings of $26.71 (23.0% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Kanawha County is about 21.6% smaller. Also, compared to the state of West Virginia, average hourly earnings of $21.95, Kanawha County is about the same size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Kanawha County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Kanawha County depicts it has a Self Employed of 6.1% which is in the mid point range of other counties in the area. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Roane County which shows a percentage self employed of 7.2% (18.6% larger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years in the middle range of other counties in the local area at $56,734 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-25 to 44 years at $59,637 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Putnam County with $80,143. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-45 to 64 years at $41,502 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Putnam County with $48,261.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 28.3% which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Boone County which depicts a households with retirement income of 35.6% (25.7% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and it has one of the largest proportions of overall family income at $66,716 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Putnam County with $85,149. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of white family income at $42,979 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Fayette County with $58,219. Third, it has the largest proportion of black family income at $68,393 of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of american indian family income at $142,000 of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of hawaiian family income at $98,261 of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Kanawha County depicts it has the hightest cost of 102.9 for the cost of transportation aggregate.

Kanawha County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data estimated by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS tracks unemployment statistics for a large number of areas throughout the country on a month to month basis. However, not every location in the U.S. is tracked by the BLS so the chart will only show the closest location available (which may be the same location.) Figure 14 shows the monthly unemployment rate for the area as well as a comparison to the overall national economy measure for the United States. Note that in March to April 2020, the Covid 19 recession or great recession occurred and affects this metric. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the disasterous Covid-19 virus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 8.1% to 5.0% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 38.3%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 4.1% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 18.0%. In Figure 15 the monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work are also defined as unemployed but do not include people who have given up looking for work. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the Wuhan virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 91,912 to 81,900 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 10.9%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 82,886 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of very little.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate/eligible for unemployment benefits and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows Kanawha County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 3.3% which is less than most other counties in the area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Boone County which depicts a rate of 5.8% (78.1% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Kanawha County indicates it has a Labor Force Participation of 55.6% which is the second most participation rates of all the counties in the greater Kanawha County region.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Kanawha County shows full time employees approximately 4.3 times bigger as the part time employees.

The next employment related data item is shown in Figure 21 which is the percentage of families with only a single earner in the greater Kanawha County area. Kanawha County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 28.0% which is the second smallest when sorted by families with a single earner of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Clay County which depicts a single earners rate of 39.0% (39.3% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Kanawha County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 23.1% which is the smallest in order of families with no one working of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Boone County which shows a families with no worker of 34.8% (50.8% larger).

Kanawha County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Kanawha County community. This performance can be enhanced by government programs such as economic opportunity zone to influence manufacturing, job growth, economic opportunity an hopefully lead to economic recovery after the recent Covid 19 recession. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. Kanawha County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 29,453 which is the largest of all counties in the greater Kanawha County region.

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Kanawha County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 16.4% which is the second smallest in terms of percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Clay County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 26.3% (60.0% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Kanawha County has the largest proportion of person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 25% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Kanawha County has the percentage of white poverty rate less than most other counties in the metropolitan area at 27% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of black poverty rate at 33% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Lincoln County with 100%. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of american indian poverty rate at 5% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Putnam County (19%), and #1 Boone County (100%) are larger. Also, it has the largest proportion of asian poverty rate at 7% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian poverty rate at 15% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Clay County (55%), and #1 Lincoln County (73%) are larger.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Kanawha County has the percentage of married with children and in poverty the second smallest when sorted by married with children and in poverty of all the other counties in the metropolitan area at 47% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when sorted by married with children and in poverty of all the other counties in the greater region when ranked by unmarried with children and in poverty at 49% of the total. Additionally, Figure 30 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) Kanawha County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 16.4% which is the second smallest in terms of households with public assistance of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Clay County which indicates a households with public assistance of 32.6% (about twice as large).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Kanawha County depicts it has a Gini Index of 48.9% which is the second most of all the counties in the metropolitan area.

Kanawha County Work Commute Charts

The following set of charts detail a variety of metrics that have economic impact, economic grow factors and economic development metrics in the Kanawha County community and has an impact on other factors such as economic growth, population growth, economic recovery, job growth, etc.. Figure 32 shows a high level view of how the population commutes to work (including the percent of people who work from home.) Kanawha County has the largest proportion of people who drive a car or motorcycle to work at 2% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Kanawha County or elsewhere.) Kanawha County has the largest proportion of people who take the bus at 2% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who take the ferry at 0% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Kanawha County has the percentage of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am less than most other counties in the greater region at 3% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 3% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 15% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 730 am to 8am at 13% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 830 am to 9am at 6% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Kanawha County has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 11% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Fayette County (11%), and #1 Boone County (15%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 16% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 22% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 15 to 19 minutes at 19% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 35 to 39 minutes at 2% of the total. Furthermore, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 40 to 44 minutes at 4% of the total. Next it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 45 to 59 minutes at 2% of the total. Additionally, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 60 to 89 minutes at 2% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Kanawha County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 22 which is the smallest in order of average commute time of all the other counties in the local area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Kanawha County shows average commute time in minutes for men 15.2% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Kanawha County has the largest proportion of no vehicle available at 25% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of 1 vehicle available at 45% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Putnam County with 46%. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 2 vehicles available at 18% of the total. Also, it has less than most other counties in the metro area in order of 4 vehicles available at 3% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Kanawha County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 41% which is the third most of all other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Roane County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 66% (61.2% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Kanawha County is about 7.7% smaller. Also, measured against the state of West Virginia, people who both work and live in the same city of 36%, Kanawha County is 12.0% larger.

Kanawha County Jobs Charts

The next to charts break out the median earnings for major job categories for men and women. Figure 46 shows the median earnings of men for the job categories. Kanawha County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $126,346 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations category. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Kanawha County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $62,760 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations group. The table in Figure 48, shows Kanawha County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Kanawha County Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows economic activity in terms of the number of people who are self employed in incorporated local business by industry. Kanawha County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 50% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses grouping.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories such as manufacturing, retail sales, residential real estate, commercial real estate, health care, exports/imports, and advanced industries, etc. Kanawha County indicates it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 26% for the self employed in educational services, health care and social assistance aggregate.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Kanawha County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $36,516 which is the second most average annual self employment income of all the counties in the greater Kanawha County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Putnam County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $39,615 (8.5% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Kanawha County is about 15.4% smaller. Also, in comparison with the state of West Virginia, average annual self employment income of $33,509, Kanawha County is 9.0% larger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Kanawha County depicts total number of self-employed men 33.6% larger as the total number of self-employed women.