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In 2023, 14,014 people were working in West Virginia's coal industry in total. Of that number, 10,823 of the employees worked in underground coal mines. 

Coal-mining in West Virginia and the Appalachian region

Coal-mining in West Virginia accounted for over 14,000 jobs in 2023, with 10,823 jobs located in underground mines and 3,191 jobs dedicated to surface mines. In 2023, four of the 10 leading U.S. underground coal mines based on production were located in West Virginia. However, over the past decade, coal mining employment in the U.S. has declined considerably. In the Appalachian region, of which West Virginia is a part, there were nearly 28,000 coal mining jobs in 2023, down from over 56,000 in 2010. 

West Virigina's standing as a U.S. coal producer

West Virginia's coal deposits have been known since the early 1700s, while large-scale coal mining began there in the mid-1800s. Today, coal is mined in 21 of the state's 55 counties. Although West Virginia is not the largest coal producing state in the U.S., it came in second place as of 2023, only surpassed by Wyoming. That year, Wyoming produced 237 million short tons of coal, while West Virginia produced some 84.6 million short tons. Despite being one of the largest producers, coal consumption is greater in many other U.S. states than in West Virginia.