Job Shortages
The tables below show the top three occupations that are projected from 2018-2028 of West Virginia employers based on the level of education they require. There is a state minimum wage of $8.75 in West Virginia. The one highlighted occupation under each of the three education levels has been selected to expand on in terms of potential career advancement.
Potential Career Advancement
1) Retail Salesperson to Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers
Retail Salesperson Job Description:
- Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers
Entry Level Requirements:
- Short-term on-the-job training
- English language proficiency
Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers Job Description:
- Supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in a department
Career Advancement Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED typically required
2) Nursing Assistant to Licensed Practical Nurse
Nursing Assistant Job Description:
- Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff
Entry Level Requirements:
- Complete a state-approved nurse aide training program
- Pass the state exam ($125-$160), certification is attained once the state exam is passed
Licensed Practical Nurse Job Description:
- Provide more extensive patient care with fewer administrative tasks relative to medical assistant
Career Advancement Requirements:
- Complete a state-approved Practical Nursing program
- Pass the National Council Licensure Exam-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) exam ($200)
- Apply for license ($75, renewal every 2 years)
3) General & Operations Manager to Chief Executive
General & Operations Manager Job Description:
- Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations
Entry Level Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business related field
- Prior experience in managerial position is often required, more information found here
Chief Executive Job Description:
- Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body
Career Advancement Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in business related field, MBA encouraged
- 5+ years of management experience, more information found here
Immigration in West Virginia
The following are facts about the immigrant community in West Virginia:
- Immigrants comprise 2% of the state population and 2% of the West Virginia labor force
- Top industries of immigrant employment:
- Educational Services, 3,422 workers
- Health Care and Social Assistance, 2,924 workers
- Retail Trade, 1,633 workers
- Accommodation and Food Services, 1,612 workers
- Manufacturing, 1,092 workers
- 1,204 immigrant business owners account for 2% of all self-employed West Virginia residents
- 52% of immigrants in West Virginia are naturalized and another 14% are undocumented
- Top foreign-born countries of origin:
- Mexico, 11%
- China, 9%
- India, 7%
- The Philippines, 6%
- Germany, 5%
- 2% of native-born West Virginians are children of an immigrant
- Educational attainment of foreign born adults in West Virginians:
- High School diploma or less – 29%
- More than HS diploma, less than Bachelor’s degree – 29%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher – 42%
- Share of Brain Waste* – 16%
* Share of immigrant professionals, who are unemployed, employed at poverty-level wages in High School diploma or less jobs, or significantly underemployed in more than HS diploma, less than Bachelor’s degree jobs
Sources
Jobs
Projections Managing Partnership (PMP), Projections Central – State Occupational Projections, “Long Term Occupational Projection (2018-2028)”; http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates; https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, “Education and training assignments by detailed occupation,” 2019; https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
National Council of State Legislatures, “State Minimum Wages”, December 2020; http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx#Table
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economic News Release, “Employees on Nonfarm Payrolls by State, Seasonally adjusted”, November 2020; https://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.t03.htm
Potential Career Advancement
National Conference of State Legislatures, “The National Occupational Licensing Database”, March 2020: https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/occupational-licensing-statute-database.aspx
Immigration
American Immigration Council, State by State Fact Sheet, August 2020; https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/topics/state-by-state