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Picture of valves The array of different industries in a county significantly impacts its economy in various ways, contributing to economic stability, growth, and resilience. Here are some key effects:

  1. Economic Stability and Resilience
    • Diversification Reduces Risk: A county with a diverse range of industries is less vulnerable to economic shocks. If one industry faces a downturn, others can help stabilize the economy.
    • Resilience to Market Fluctuations: Different industries often respond differently to market conditions. For example, while manufacturing might decline during a recession, healthcare or education might remain stable.

  2. Job Creation and Employment
    • Variety of Employment Opportunounties: A mix of industries provides a wide range of job opportunounties, catering to different skill sets and education levels.
    • Reduced Unemployment: Diversification helps maintain lower unemployment rates, as job losses in one sector can be offset by gains in another.

  3. Innovation and Competitiveness
    • Cross-Industry Collaboration: Different industries can foster innovation through collaboration. For example, technology companies working with healthcare providers can lead to advancements in medical technology.
    • Attracting Talent: A diverse industrial base attracts a skilled workforce, enhancing the county's competitiveness and ability to innovate.

  4. Economic Growth and Development
    • Increased GDP: A variety of industries contribute to the county's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), driving overall economic growth.
    • Infrastructure Development: The presence of multiple industries often leads to better infrastructure, such as transportation, utilounties, and communication networks, which further supports economic activounties.

  5. Tax Revenue and Public Services
    • Higher Tax Revenue: A diverse industrial base generates more tax revenue from different sources, including corporate taxes, income taxes, and sales taxes.
    • Funding for Public Services: Increased tax revenue allows the county to invest in public services like education, healthcare, and public safety, improving the quality of life for residents.

  6. Attracting Investment
    • Investor Confidence: A diversified economy is more attractive to investors, as it reduces the risk associated with economic downturns in any single industry.
    • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Counties with a variety of industries are more likely to attract FDI, which can further boost economic growth.

  7. Quality of Life
    • Variety of Goods and Services: A diverse economy ensures a wide range of goods and services are available to residents, improving their quality of life.
    • Cultural and Social Benefits: Different industries often bring cultural and social diversity, enriching the county's cultural landscape and community life.

  8. Environmental Impact
    • Sustainable Practices: A mix of industries can promote sustainable practices, as different sectors may adopt varying approaches to environmental responsibility.
    • Balanced Resource Use: Diversification can lead to more balanced use of natural resources, reducing the environmental footprint of the county.

  9. Global Connectivity
    • Trade and Export Opportunounties: A diverse industrial base enhances a county's ability to engage in international trade, exporting a variety of goods and services.
    • Global Networks: Different industries often have global networks, increasing the county's connectivity and integration into the global economy.

In summary, the presence of a diverse array of industries in a county fosters economic stability, growth, and resilience, while also enhancing the quality of life for its residents and attracting investment and talent. This diversification is crucial for sustainable long-term economic development.

A diversification score measures the diversity of the industries in the county. As the value appoaches 100, industry diversity decreases and therefore increasing the risk of economic failure for the county should those limited industries befall a calamity. The industry diversification score for this county is:

Most common industry excluding Educational Services is:

 
DescriptionEm­ployed
16 and
Over
Agri­culture/
Mining/
Con­struction
Manufac­turing Whole­sale/
Retail
Transpor­tation Infor­mation Finance/
Insu­rance/
Real Estate
Profes­sional
Services
Manage­ment
Services
Adminis­trative/
Waste Services
Educa­tional
Services
Enter­tainment
Services
Other
Profes­sional
Services
Public
Adminis­tration

McDowell County3,8966342153392111815710703001,135141177462
West Virginia (in 000's)767776310748113337027214623354
National (in 000's)170,84514,58316,94922,45210,0443,19011,49313,8472177,12439,93414,8428,0278,142
Mercer County23,0062,0341,6503,4731,59744378286706527,2032,0131,1611,131
Tazewell County13,8831,1301,7902,342594304594513503753,3691,241769812
Mingo County6,3401,3483239351401212321903311,606642331330
Wyoming County6,2371,311280864327901159701521,944469287301
Buchanan County5,50884342089621516726712102041,264290224597
 
Per Cent to Total Employed 16 and OverDiversity
Index
 

McDowell County15.0716.275.528.705.420.464.032.750.007.7029.133.624.5411.86
West Virginia13.6810.078.1913.896.211.484.364.790.063.5127.868.124.367.10
National11.778.549.9213.145.881.876.738.110.134.1723.378.694.704.77
Mercer County15.508.847.1715.106.941.933.403.770.002.8331.318.755.054.92
Tazewell County13.138.1412.8916.874.282.194.283.700.362.7024.278.945.545.85
Mingo County15.4221.265.0914.752.210.191.943.450.005.2225.3310.135.225.21
Wyoming County17.6821.024.4913.855.241.441.841.560.002.4431.177.524.604.83
Buchanan County13.1215.317.6316.273.903.034.852.200.003.7022.955.274.0710.84
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

McDowell County 161.6667.3762.6487.2431.2992.3557.330.00219.15104.5844.56104.19166.97
West Virginia 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 84.80121.1194.6094.71126.45154.17169.19220.73118.6783.91106.96107.7567.10
Mercer County 87.8387.56108.67111.82130.4077.9078.670.0080.66112.40107.72115.7369.22
Tazewell County 80.86157.41121.4468.92148.2998.0577.14624.9276.8887.11110.05127.0382.35
Mingo County 211.2262.20106.1635.5712.8244.4672.110.00148.5990.94124.67119.7373.29
Wyoming County 208.8254.8199.7284.4697.7242.2632.460.0069.36111.8992.58105.5367.95
Buchanan County 152.0593.09117.1062.88205.32111.0945.860.00105.4182.3864.8293.27152.61
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

McDowell County 190.6455.6366.2192.1224.7459.9033.890.00184.68124.6341.6696.69248.82
West Virginia 117.9282.57105.71105.5979.0964.8659.1145.3084.27119.1793.4992.81149.02
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Mercer County 103.5872.30114.87118.07103.1350.5346.500.0067.97133.95100.72107.41103.15
Tazewell County 95.35129.97128.3772.78117.2863.6045.59283.1264.78103.82102.89117.89122.72
Mingo County 249.0851.36112.2237.5610.1428.8442.620.00125.21108.37116.56111.12109.21
Wyoming County 246.2545.25105.4189.1877.2827.4119.190.0058.45133.3486.5697.94101.26
Buchanan County 179.3076.86123.7866.40162.3872.0627.100.0088.8398.1860.6086.56227.42


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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