Appalachian Regional Commission

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast

Employment Change by Industry, 2000-2010

Total employment increased only 1.6% in the Appalachian Region between 2000 and 2010, 

compared with 5.1% for the nation as a whole. Employment in Southern Appalachia grew 

the most, at 5.7%, while the Northern subregion experienced a loss of 0.7%. 

The industries with the greatest job growth in Appalachia were Mining (43.8%), Finance, 

Insurance, and Real Estate (26.1%), Health & Social Services (25.2%), and Professional and 

Technical Services (20.3%). Mining employment expanded by 65.2% in Northern Appalachia 

and 51.6% in North Central Appalachia. Finance increased the most in South Central (29.3%) 

and Southern Appalachia (38.9%), along with Health and Social Services, which grew 32.9% 

and 34.4% in South Central and Southern Appalachia, respectively. 

Industries that lost the most jobs over the 2000-2010 period included Manufacturing 

(-35.8%), Farming (-16.7%), Utilities (-14.7%), and Construction (-7.4%). Manufacturing 

employment declined at a faster rate than the nation in every region of Appalachia except 

the Central subregion. In South Central Appalachia, manufacturing employment fell 43.0%.

Employment Shares by Industry, 2000-2010

The industries with the highest shares of total employment in Appalachia were Food, 

Lodging, and Entertainment (14.7%), State and Local Government (12.1%), Health and 

Social Services (11.5%), Retail Trade (11.5%), Professional and Technical Services (11.3%), 

and Manufacturing (9.8%). Shares of these industries were similar to that of the nation,

except for Manufacturing, Retail Trade, and Health and Social Services, which were

higher in Appalachia, and Professional Services, which was lower. Manufacturing’s share 

of the total was highest in Southern (11.4%), South Central (10.2%), and Northern 

Appalachia (9.3%)

The industries with the smallest share of total employment were Utilities (0.4%), Mining 

(1.1%), Federal Government (2.1%), Farming (2.6%), and Education (3.3%). Mining 

ranged from a high of 4.8% of total employment in Central Appalachia to a low of 0.2% in 

South Central Appalachia. 

Employment Index by Industry, 2000-2010

The employment index is the ratio of regional to national employment shares, and measures 

the relative concentration of a particular industry in a given area. The most highly 

concentrated industries in Appalachia are Mining (1.61 times the national share), 

Manufacturing (1.39), Farming and Forestry (1.30), and Utilities (1.27). The industries with 

the lowest concentration included Federal Government (0.72), Finance (0.76), Education and 

Information Services (0.79), and Professional and Technical Services (0.81). 

It is important to note that the industry sectors with relatively low concentrations in 

Appalachia had some of the highest growth rates over the 2000-2010 period (Finance, 

Education and Information Services, and Professional and Technical Services). The reverse is 

also true: the industry sectors with relatively high concentrations in Appalachia are the 

industries that contracted over the 2000-2010 period (Manufacturing, Farming and Forestry, 

and Utilities). This phenomenon largely explains why employment growth in Appalachia lags 

behind the nation during boom years and falls further during recessions. 
Appalachian Regional Commission

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast
Appalachian Regional Commission

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast
Appalachian Regional Commission

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast
Appalachian Regional Commission

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast
Appalachian Regional Commission 

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014 

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast 

Employment by Industry, 2010 

(thousands)

Total Employment

Farming, Forestry

Coal, Gas, Other 

Mining

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade, 

Transportation

Retail Trade

Finance, Insurance, 

Real Estate

Professional, 

Technical Services

Education, 

Information Services

Health, Social 

Services

Food, Lodging, 

Entertainment

Federal Government, 

Military

State & Local 

Government

United States 173,767 3,493 1,182 580 8,916 12,208 11,554 17,763 17,111 24,249 7,286 19,060 25,686 5,138 19,542

Appalachian Region 12,627 329 138 54 730 1,237 798 1,448 945 1,432 419 1,449 1,854 267 1,528

Northern Appalachia 4,446 89 51 20 231 414 285 516 336 474 190 622 635 75 508

North Central Appalachia 1,128 39 30 8 64 72 60 135 75 103 30 147 166 36 163

Central Appalachia 791 49 38 3 49 66 45 91 44 70 18 87 99 18 114

South Central Appalachia 2,458 72 6 4 152 251 154 280 193 279 73 276 379 44 296

Southern Appalachia 3,802 80 13 19 234 433 256 427 296 505 108 317 574 93 447

Alabama 2,496 65 11 15 148 245 149 273 200 308 67 224 378 91 323

Appalachian Alabama 1,598 39 9 10 93 162 94 173 129 208 42 143 237 59 198

Georgia 5,274 75 9 21 277 364 421 532 481 797 221 477 806 211 582

Appalachian Georgia 1,273 19 2 5 91 144 99 152 102 179 38 100 190 17 135

Kentucky 2,342 100 29 7 119 216 177 245 176 255 69 246 318 101 284

Appalachian Kentucky 494 34 18 2 27 41 29 58 28 41 12 60 62 11 71

Maryland 3,365 22 4 10 204 124 184 335 334 559 150 395 476 218 347

Appalachian Maryland 137 2 1 0 8 10 9 19 13 12 3 20 20 2 16

Mississippi 1,493 59 13 8 89 141 90 162 102 148 39 142 217 59 225

Appalachian Mississippi 292 15 1 2 16 46 19 33 16 26 6 28 35 8 40

New York 10,973 64 13 40 460 489 683 1,037 1,339 1,530 712 1,532 1,556 193 1,325

Appalachian New York 550 17 3 3 26 59 23 64 35 48 31 73 75 6 87

North Carolina 5,202 86 7 13 301 453 319 532 454 704 194 525 750 217 645

Appalachian North Carolina 869 21 2 2 59 83 46 96 71 96 30 111 136 13 103

Ohio 6,451 91 27 21 298 649 452 672 566 868 241 831 902 121 714

Appalachian Ohio 894 30 13 6 51 92 54 110 63 80 22 118 129 13 113

Pennsylvania 7,137 92 41 23 355 589 499 765 646 938 382 995 987 146 679

Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,152 55 37 13 165 276 212 358 249 357 141 444 449 59 338

South Carolina 2,452 39 3 12 130 216 133 270 212 309 70 197 462 89 310

Appalachian South Carolina 638 8 1 2 34 81 44 69 49 92 22 46 112 9 73

Tennessee 3,541 90 8 4 198 314 289 385 298 455 121 376 546 76 381

Appalachian Tennessee 1,460 47 4 2 91 152 99 167 116 174 38 153 222 30 165

Virginia 4,765 67 14 12 276 242 254 475 403 855 186 431 673 344 535

Appalachian Virginia 362 18 7 1 21 40 20 42 21 34 9 33 51 6 60

West Virginia 907 25 40 6 48 52 50 106 53 85 25 120 136 34 127
Appalachian Regional Commission 

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014 

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast 

Percent Change in 

Employment by Industry, 

2000-2010

Total 

Farming, Forestry

Coal, Gas, Other Mining

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade, 

Transportation

Retail Trade

Finance, Insurance, Real 

Estate

Professional, Technical 

Services

Education, Information 

Services

Health, Social Services

Food, Lodging, 

Entertainment

Federal Government, 

Military

State & Local 

Government

United States 5.1% -12.0% 56.1% -6.8% -6.5% -31.2% -1.6% -3.8% 28.8% 11.6% 6.3% 26.8% 13.1% 3.6% 8.7%

Appalachian Region 1.6% -16.7% 43.8% -14.7% -7.4% -35.8% -2.6% -6.6% 26.1% 20.3% 5.7% 25.2% 12.9% 0.5% 9.8%

Northern Appalachia -0.7% -11.4% 65.2% -27.3% -4.3% -34.3% -0.4% -9.2% 16.7% 12.8% 0.8% 18.4% 4.2% -5.4% 5.4%

North Central Appalachia 2.8% -11.8% 51.6% -16.3% -7.2% -34.6% -2.1% -7.5% 17.9% 15.0% -3.8% 25.0% 11.4% 5.5% 7.0%

Central Appalachia 0.3% -23.4% 27.0% -17.2% -1.2% -29.4% -10.0% -10.1% 26.3% 22.8% 2.6% 22.3% 8.2% 6.4% 5.7%

South Central Appalachia -0.5% -22.0% 27.4% -15.6% -9.4% -43.0% -6.3% -6.7% 29.3% 19.7% 20.8% 32.9% 14.1% -1.2% 10.3%

Southern Appalachia 5.7% -14.8% 21.7% 6.4% -10.3% -33.5% -1.2% -2.0% 38.9% 29.5% 9.5% 34.4% 24.9% 3.6% 17.4%

Alabama 4.0% -13.0% 20.2% -0.2% -7.0% -30.7% -7.8% -4.2% 31.0% 25.6% 3.1% 24.4% 20.3% 0.2% 9.5%

Appalachian Alabama 3.3% -13.7% 19.0% 2.8% -9.0% -33.5% -6.1% -4.4% 29.4% 24.8% 1.6% 25.0% 19.4% 5.0% 11.0%

Georgia 8.6% -16.7% -2.4% 2.6% -9.4% -32.2% 0.2% -2.6% 40.7% 19.1% -2.1% 36.0% 25.5% 10.7% 15.4%

Appalachian Georgia 14.6% -17.5% 16.7% 37.9% -7.0% -26.0% 5.6% 7.3% 51.2% 37.3% 17.7% 50.6% 33.5% 7.4% 35.2%

Kentucky 1.2% -20.5% 34.3% -19.4% -12.0% -31.3% -1.8% -9.6% 28.2% 17.5% 4.9% 21.9% 10.4% 14.7% 10.0%

Appalachian Kentucky -0.3% -23.0% 26.2% -20.7% -8.5% -30.7% -8.6% -10.5% 23.7% 26.8% -0.4% 24.0% 9.3% 9.2% 5.3%

Maryland 9.8% -14.1% 50.6% -11.4% 0.6% -30.7% -2.6% -3.9% 31.3% 19.8% 14.5% 24.3% 13.9% 6.2% 11.7%

Appalachian Maryland 5.0% -10.1% 0.2% -36.4% 1.5% -31.2% -5.9% 6.9% 12.1% 24.7% 16.9% 16.9% 11.0% -0.9% 12.6%

Mississippi 0.8% -17.4% 59.5% -0.2% 1.5% -37.2% -1.0% -6.3% 28.3% 30.7% 9.1% 33.4% 3.6% -6.0% 6.4%

Appalachian Mississippi -6.4% -17.1% 85.7% 7.9% -9.9% -43.8% 2.8% -7.5% 25.2% 32.2% 17.2% 28.9% 9.2% -5.8% 7.2%

New York 6.1% -13.1% 51.6% -5.6% 3.7% -36.1% -6.7% 2.2% 21.4% 8.1% 4.4% 23.1% 16.3% -4.9% 3.5%

Appalachian New York -2.7% -15.3% 49.9% -13.3% 4.1% -29.3% -11.4% -6.9% 21.7% -6.1% -1.0% 13.6% 4.8% -14.0% 4.9%

North Carolina 6.4% -20.3% 18.9% -17.9% -11.9% -41.9% -3.8% -2.9% 40.4% 26.4% 27.3% 40.9% 22.7% 19.0% 15.8%

Appalachian North Carolina -1.1% -20.1% 34.3% -20.1% -13.1% -49.6% -10.2% -6.6% 30.6% 22.7% 24.3% 32.1% 17.2% 5.6% 11.2%

Ohio -4.9% -18.6% 35.4% -17.8% -17.5% -38.0% -6.6% -15.8% 11.7% 5.0% 7.6% 24.5% 1.5% -2.3% 2.1%

Appalachian Ohio -6.3% -17.4% 37.7% -7.8% -13.6% -41.3% 0.5% -14.2% 18.4% 8.5% -0.3% 18.1% 0.6% -3.2% -0.4%

Pennsylvania 3.3% -9.1% 59.4% -35.8% -3.2% -33.0% 3.2% -6.4% 18.5% 17.7% 5.6% 22.7% 9.3% -6.2% 7.9%

Appalachian Pennsylvania 1.4% -8.5% 68.5% -32.4% -3.9% -33.0% 1.9% -8.7% 17.4% 17.3% 1.8% 21.5% 5.3% -4.3% 7.2%

South Carolina 7.8% -9.0% 31.0% -0.9% -15.1% -36.1% 1.3% -1.3% 48.5% 26.3% 18.2% 37.9% 32.6% -0.5% 5.4%

Appalachian South Carolina 1.8% -8.3% -7.2% -25.3% -20.9% -38.3% -6.0% -11.1% 47.9% 25.8% 10.9% 38.5% 28.9% -2.7% 13.6%

Tennessee 2.0% -23.3% 25.7% -1.1% -6.7% -37.0% -6.4% -4.7% 22.6% 12.4% 13.3% 37.0% 16.0% -3.0% 11.5%

Appalachian Tennessee 1.0% -24.7% 21.2% -11.9% -4.6% -36.8% -5.7% -5.4% 28.2% 16.5% 18.9% 35.4% 13.6% -3.1% 10.7%

Virginia 8.9% -10.7% 27.6% -1.4% -1.5% -33.5% -2.8% -1.5% 36.3% 23.3% -1.6% 32.9% 15.9% 2.9% 13.1%

Appalachian Virginia -3.8% -19.0% 6.1% -10.3% -0.7% -41.7% -5.5% -11.7% 37.9% 30.0% 11.9% 17.2% 4.4% -6.6% 7.1%

West Virginia 3.1% -8.1% 58.7% -19.6% -3.9% -32.6% -6.4% -7.7% 10.2% 12.5% -8.4% 18.5% 11.8% 6.2% 6.9%
Appalachian Regional Commission 

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014 

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast 

Industry Share, 2010

Farming, Forestry

Coal, Gas, Other 

Mining

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade, 

Transportation

Retail Trade

Finance, Insurance, 

Real Estate

Professional, 

Technical Services

Education, 

Information Services

Health, Social 

Services

Food, Lodging, 

Entertainment

Federal Government, 

Military

State & Local 

Government

United States 2.0% 0.7% 0.3% 5.1% 7.0% 6.6% 10.2% 9.8% 14.0% 4.2% 11.0% 14.8% 3.0% 11.2%

Appalachian Region 2.6% 1.1% 0.4% 5.8% 9.8% 6.3% 11.5% 7.5% 11.3% 3.3% 11.5% 14.7% 2.1% 12.1%

Northern Appalachia 2.0% 1.1% 0.4% 5.2% 9.3% 6.4% 11.6% 7.6% 10.7% 4.3% 14.0% 14.3% 1.7% 11.4%

North Central Appalachia 3.4% 2.7% 0.7% 5.7% 6.4% 5.3% 11.9% 6.7% 9.1% 2.7% 13.0% 14.7% 3.2% 14.5%

Central Appalachia 6.2% 4.8% 0.4% 6.2% 8.3% 5.6% 11.4% 5.6% 8.9% 2.3% 11.0% 12.6% 2.3% 14.4%

South Central Appalachia 2.9% 0.2% 0.2% 6.2% 10.2% 6.2% 11.4% 7.9% 11.4% 3.0% 11.2% 15.4% 1.8% 12.0%

Southern Appalachia 2.1% 0.3% 0.5% 6.2% 11.4% 6.7% 11.2% 7.8% 13.3% 2.8% 8.3% 15.1% 2.5% 11.7%

Alabama 2.6% 0.5% 0.6% 5.9% 9.8% 6.0% 10.9% 8.0% 12.3% 2.7% 9.0% 15.1% 3.7% 12.9%

Appalachian Alabama 2.4% 0.5% 0.6% 5.8% 10.2% 5.9% 10.8% 8.1% 13.0% 2.7% 9.0% 14.8% 3.7% 12.4%

Georgia 1.4% 0.2% 0.4% 5.3% 6.9% 8.0% 10.1% 9.1% 15.1% 4.2% 9.0% 15.3% 4.0% 11.0%

Appalachian Georgia 1.5% 0.2% 0.4% 7.1% 11.3% 7.8% 11.9% 8.0% 14.1% 3.0% 7.9% 14.9% 1.3% 10.6%

Kentucky 4.3% 1.2% 0.3% 5.1% 9.2% 7.6% 10.5% 7.5% 10.9% 2.9% 10.5% 13.6% 4.3% 12.1%

Appalachian Kentucky 6.8% 3.7% 0.4% 5.5% 8.3% 5.8% 11.8% 5.7% 8.4% 2.5% 12.1% 12.5% 2.2% 14.3%

Maryland 0.7% 0.1% 0.3% 6.1% 3.7% 5.5% 10.0% 9.9% 16.6% 4.5% 11.7% 14.2% 6.5% 10.3%

Appalachian Maryland 1.8% 0.5% 0.3% 5.8% 7.6% 6.8% 14.0% 9.4% 8.7% 2.5% 14.4% 14.6% 1.6% 12.0%

Mississippi 4.0% 0.8% 0.5% 6.0% 9.4% 6.0% 10.9% 6.8% 9.9% 2.6% 9.5% 14.5% 3.9% 15.1%

Appalachian Mississippi 5.2% 0.5% 0.5% 5.5% 15.6% 6.4% 11.4% 5.6% 8.9% 1.9% 9.7% 12.0% 2.9% 13.7%

New York 0.6% 0.1% 0.4% 4.2% 4.5% 6.2% 9.4% 12.2% 13.9% 6.5% 14.0% 14.2% 1.8% 12.1%

Appalachian New York 3.0% 0.6% 0.5% 4.7% 10.7% 4.2% 11.6% 6.4% 8.8% 5.6% 13.3% 13.7% 1.1% 15.9%

North Carolina 1.7% 0.1% 0.3% 5.8% 8.7% 6.1% 10.2% 8.7% 13.5% 3.7% 10.1% 14.4% 4.2% 12.4%

Appalachian North Carolina 2.5% 0.2% 0.2% 6.8% 9.5% 5.3% 11.0% 8.1% 11.1% 3.5% 12.8% 15.7% 1.5% 11.9%

Ohio 1.4% 0.4% 0.3% 4.6% 10.1% 7.0% 10.4% 8.8% 13.5% 3.7% 12.9% 14.0% 1.9% 11.1%

Appalachian Ohio 3.3% 1.4% 0.7% 5.7% 10.3% 6.1% 12.3% 7.1% 8.9% 2.4% 13.2% 14.4% 1.5% 12.6%

Pennsylvania 1.3% 0.6% 0.3% 5.0% 8.3% 7.0% 10.7% 9.0% 13.1% 5.4% 13.9% 13.8% 2.1% 9.5%

Appalachian Pennsylvania 1.7% 1.2% 0.4% 5.2% 8.7% 6.7% 11.3% 7.9% 11.3% 4.5% 14.1% 14.2% 1.9% 10.7%

South Carolina 1.6% 0.1% 0.5% 5.3% 8.8% 5.4% 11.0% 8.7% 12.6% 2.9% 8.0% 18.9% 3.6% 12.6%

Appalachian South Carolina 1.2% 0.1% 0.3% 5.3% 12.6% 6.8% 10.8% 7.6% 14.4% 3.5% 7.2% 17.5% 1.4% 11.4%

Tennessee 2.5% 0.2% 0.1% 5.6% 8.9% 8.2% 10.9% 8.4% 12.8% 3.4% 10.6% 15.4% 2.2% 10.8%

Appalachian Tennessee 3.2% 0.3% 0.1% 6.2% 10.4% 6.8% 11.4% 8.0% 11.9% 2.6% 10.5% 15.2% 2.1% 11.3%

Virginia 1.4% 0.3% 0.2% 5.8% 5.1% 5.3% 10.0% 8.5% 17.9% 3.9% 9.0% 14.1% 7.2% 11.2%

Appalachian Virginia 4.9% 2.1% 0.3% 5.7% 11.1% 5.4% 11.6% 5.7% 9.5% 2.6% 9.0% 14.1% 1.6% 16.5%

West Virginia 2.8% 4.4% 0.6% 5.3% 5.7% 5.5% 11.7% 5.9% 9.4% 2.7% 13.2% 15.0% 3.8% 14.0%
Appalachian Regional Commission 

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014 

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast 

Employment Index, 2010 

(ratio to U.S. share)

Farming, Forestry

Coal, Gas, Other 

Mining

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade, 

Transportation

Retail Trade

Finance, Insurance, 

Real Estate

Professional, 

Technical Services

Education, 

Information Services

Health, Social 

Services

Food, Lodging, 

Entertainment

Federal Government, 

Military

State & Local 

Government

United States 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

Appalachian Region 1.30 1.61 1.27 1.13 1.39 0.95 1.12 0.76 0.81 0.79 1.05 0.99 0.72 1.08

Northern Appalachia 1.00 1.69 1.33 1.01 1.33 0.96 1.13 0.77 0.76 1.02 1.28 0.97 0.57 1.02

North Central Appalachia 1.71 3.91 2.13 1.11 0.91 0.79 1.17 0.68 0.66 0.64 1.18 1.00 1.09 1.29

Central Appalachia 3.07 7.11 1.13 1.20 1.19 0.85 1.12 0.57 0.64 0.55 1.00 0.85 0.79 1.28

South Central Appalachia 1.46 0.36 0.53 1.20 1.46 0.94 1.11 0.80 0.81 0.70 1.02 1.04 0.60 1.07

Southern Appalachia 1.05 0.50 1.46 1.20 1.62 1.01 1.10 0.79 0.95 0.68 0.76 1.02 0.83 1.04

Alabama 1.29 0.66 1.74 1.15 1.40 0.90 1.07 0.81 0.88 0.64 0.82 1.02 1.24 1.15

Appalachian Alabama 1.20 0.80 1.92 1.14 1.45 0.89 1.06 0.82 0.93 0.63 0.82 1.00 1.25 1.10

Georgia 0.71 0.26 1.19 1.03 0.98 1.20 0.99 0.93 1.08 1.00 0.82 1.03 1.35 0.98

Appalachian Georgia 0.73 0.25 1.15 1.39 1.62 1.17 1.16 0.82 1.01 0.71 0.72 1.01 0.45 0.95

Kentucky 2.13 1.81 0.86 0.99 1.31 1.14 1.02 0.76 0.78 0.70 0.96 0.92 1.45 1.08

Appalachian Kentucky 3.40 5.47 1.26 1.08 1.18 0.87 1.15 0.58 0.60 0.59 1.10 0.85 0.75 1.28

Maryland 0.33 0.18 0.91 1.18 0.52 0.82 0.98 1.01 1.19 1.06 1.07 0.96 2.20 0.92

Appalachian Maryland 0.89 0.69 0.95 1.13 1.08 1.02 1.37 0.95 0.62 0.60 1.31 0.99 0.54 1.07

Mississippi 1.97 1.24 1.63 1.16 1.34 0.91 1.06 0.69 0.71 0.63 0.87 0.98 1.33 1.34

Appalachian Mississippi 2.60 0.70 1.63 1.07 2.22 0.96 1.12 0.57 0.64 0.46 0.88 0.81 0.98 1.22

New York 0.29 0.18 1.09 0.82 0.63 0.94 0.92 1.24 1.00 1.55 1.27 0.96 0.60 1.07

Appalachian New York 1.50 0.82 1.37 0.91 1.52 0.64 1.14 0.65 0.63 1.34 1.21 0.93 0.36 1.41

North Carolina 0.83 0.20 0.75 1.13 1.24 0.92 1.00 0.89 0.97 0.89 0.92 0.98 1.41 1.10

Appalachian North Carolina 1.23 0.32 0.74 1.32 1.35 0.80 1.08 0.83 0.79 0.83 1.16 1.06 0.49 1.06

Ohio 0.70 0.63 0.96 0.90 1.43 1.05 1.02 0.89 0.96 0.89 1.17 0.95 0.63 0.98

Appalachian Ohio 1.65 2.07 2.02 1.12 1.46 0.92 1.21 0.72 0.64 0.58 1.20 0.97 0.51 1.12

Pennsylvania 0.64 0.85 0.95 0.97 1.18 1.05 1.05 0.92 0.94 1.28 1.27 0.94 0.69 0.85

Appalachian Pennsylvania 0.86 1.73 1.27 1.02 1.24 1.01 1.11 0.80 0.81 1.07 1.28 0.96 0.63 0.95

South Carolina 0.80 0.20 1.51 1.04 1.25 0.81 1.08 0.88 0.90 0.68 0.73 1.28 1.23 1.12

Appalachian South Carolina 0.58 0.14 0.86 1.04 1.80 1.03 1.06 0.77 1.03 0.83 0.65 1.18 0.46 1.01

Tennessee 1.26 0.32 0.32 1.09 1.26 1.23 1.06 0.85 0.92 0.82 0.97 1.04 0.73 0.96

Appalachian Tennessee 1.61 0.45 0.34 1.21 1.48 1.02 1.12 0.81 0.85 0.62 0.96 1.03 0.69 1.00

Virginia 0.69 0.45 0.72 1.13 0.72 0.80 0.98 0.86 1.29 0.93 0.82 0.96 2.44 1.00

Appalachian Virginia 2.43 3.03 0.88 1.12 1.58 0.81 1.14 0.58 0.68 0.61 0.82 0.95 0.53 1.46

West Virginia 1.38 6.44 1.91 1.03 0.82 0.82 1.14 0.59 0.67 0.64 1.21 1.01 1.28 1.25
Appalachian Regional Commission

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast

Forecast 2010-2020

The data for this report is obtained from Woods and Poole Economics, which provides 

historical data as well as a forecast for employment by industry out to the year 2020. 

Although any forecast should be used with caution, it is helpful to see how the economic 

structure of the region is predicted to change, and how that compares to the changes that 

are expected nationally. 

Although the most recent recession officially ended in June 2009, the Appalachian Region 

has struggled to recover from the impacts. Despite still lingering effects, the 2010−2020 

forecast begins to show signs of recovery from the recession. Total employment is 

expected to increase nationally by over 23 million jobs, while total employment in the 

Region is expected to increase by over 1.5 million jobs. 

Employment Change by Industry, Forecast 2010-2020

The industries with the largest predicted numeric change in employment in Appalachia are 

Professional and Technical Services (368,000), Food, Lodging, and Entertainment and 

Health and Social Services (both with expected increases of 301,000), Retail Trade (180,000) 

and Wholesale Trade and Transportation (106,000). These trends mirror what is expected 

to happen nationally. Manufacturing is the only industry predicted to experience a decline, 

both in Appalachia and nationwide. 

The industries exhibiting the smallest expected job growth in Appalachian employment are 

Farming and Forestry (6,000), Federal Government (2,000), and Mining and Utilities (both 

with expected increases of 1,000). 

Employment Change by Industry, (percent change), Forecast 2010-

2020

Total employment is expected to increase by 12.2% in the Appalachian Region between 

2010 and 2020, nearly matching the expected national increase of 13.4%. All subregions of 

Appalachia are predicted to experience job growth of greater than 9.0%, with Southern 

Appalachia predicted to experience the greatest growth at 14.9%. 

The industries with the greatest expected job growth in Appalachia are Professional and 

Technical Services (25.7%), Health & Social Services (20.8%), Education and Information 

Services (16.7%) and Food, Lodging and Entertainment (16.2%). While only the 

Manufacturing sector is expected to experience a decline (-2.0%), several industries are 

predicted to experience anemic growth, including Utilities (2.4%), Farming and Forestry 

(1.9%), Mining (0.9%), and Federal Government (0.6%). 

Despite a predicted growth of 12.1% in Mining nationally, the Appalachian Region is only 

expected to see growth of 0.9%, with two subregions expected to experience further 

declines, and the other subregions’ growth predicted to be far less than the national 

average.
Appalachian Regional Commission 

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014 

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast 

Forecast 

Employment by Industry, 2020 

(thousands)

Total Employment

Farming, Forestry

Coal, Gas, Other 

Mining

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade, 

Transportation

Retail Trade

Finance, Insurance, 

Real Estate

Professional, 

Technical Services

Education, 

Information Services

Health, Social 

Services

Food, Lodging, 

Entertainment

Federal Government, 

Military

State & Local 

Government

United States 197,077 3,604 1,324 615 9,983 12,001 13,026 20,404 18,856 29,814 8,513 23,034 30,388 5,168 20,347

Appalachian Region 14,164 335 140 55 818 1,212 904 1,628 1,035 1,800 489 1,749 2,155 269 1,577

Northern Appalachia 4,853 92 53 20 262 384 322 552 366 578 218 712 713 76 507

North Central Appalachia 1,260 40 30 7 78 66 66 154 79 126 34 179 193 37 171

Central Appalachia 886 49 37 3 58 73 48 103 49 89 21 103 116 19 117

South Central Appalachia 2,799 72 7 4 166 244 175 320 214 363 86 343 451 45 309

Southern Appalachia 4,367 82 13 20 255 444 292 499 327 643 130 413 683 93 472

Alabama 2,785 66 12 16 156 246 163 308 214 381 79 277 444 90 334

Appalachian Alabama 1,789 39 9 12 100 161 104 199 139 256 50 178 276 59 206

Georgia 6,109 76 10 23 297 366 484 627 536 1,002 262 619 967 215 624

Appalachian Georgia 1,519 19 2 5 99 151 118 183 115 240 46 137 235 17 151

Kentucky 2,643 100 29 7 129 224 205 279 193 323 82 297 375 101 298

Appalachian Kentucky 554 34 18 2 32 45 31 67 31 52 14 73 72 11 72

Maryland 3,873 22 4 11 225 112 210 387 372 691 180 493 572 221 372

Appalachian Maryland 154 2 1 0 9 9 10 22 14 15 3 24 23 2 18

Mississippi 1,698 57 14 9 100 139 102 191 112 187 50 181 252 59 243

Appalachian Mississippi 335 15 1 2 19 49 20 40 18 33 7 37 42 9 42

New York 11,824 66 14 39 482 420 708 1,117 1,375 1,763 796 1,734 1,825 186 1,300

Appalachian New York 563 17 3 3 29 48 24 66 36 55 29 80 84 6 85

North Carolina 6,043 83 8 14 338 429 359 630 525 931 239 654 921 226 686

Appalachian North Carolina 991 21 2 2 65 76 51 110 79 122 38 141 163 14 107

Ohio 7,121 89 29 20 338 636 503 750 602 1,050 268 973 1,021 120 724

Appalachian Ohio 978 30 13 6 60 91 62 121 68 102 24 127 147 13 113

Pennsylvania 7,937 97 43 23 394 546 557 836 701 1,146 449 1,171 1,142 145 685

Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,488 57 39 14 186 259 242 384 277 437 169 519 505 59 340

South Carolina 2,812 37 4 13 145 222 149 303 238 392 83 253 560 89 325

Appalachian South Carolina 725 7 1 2 37 83 49 77 55 114 27 61 130 9 74

Tennessee 4,087 90 8 4 222 317 328 449 332 595 143 475 649 76 399

Appalachian Tennessee 1,661 48 5 2 99 155 114 190 126 228 43 188 262 29 171

Virginia 5,568 66 15 12 302 233 288 563 466 1,067 218 554 828 352 603

Appalachian Virginia 409 18 8 1 24 38 23 49 24 45 11 37 61 6 65

West Virginia 999 26 38 5 59 45 53 121 52 101 27 147 154 36 134
Appalachian Regional Commission 

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014 

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast 

Forecast 

Numerical Change in 

Employment by Industry, 

2010-2020 (thousands)

Total Employment

Farming, Forestry

Coal, Gas, Other 

Mining

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade, 

Transportation

Retail Trade

Finance, Insurance, 

Real Estate

Professional, 

Technical Services

Education, 

Information Services

Health, Social 

Services

Food, Lodging, 

Entertainment

Federal 

Government, Military

State & Local 

Government

United States 23,310 111 143 35 1,067 -207 1,472 2,641 1,745 5,565 1,227 3,974 4,702 30 805

Appalachian Region 1,538 6 1 1 88 -25 106 180 89 368 70 301 301 2 49

Northern Appalachia 407 3 1 0 31 -30 37 36 30 104 28 90 77 0 -2

North Central Appalachia 131 1 0 -1 13 -6 7 19 4 23 4 32 27 0 8

Central Appalachia 95 1 -1 0 10 7 4 13 4 19 2 17 17 0 3

South Central Appalachia 340 0 0 0 14 -7 22 41 21 83 14 67 71 1 14

Southern Appalachia 565 2 1 2 21 11 36 72 31 138 22 95 109 0 26

Alabama 290 2 1 2 9 0 14 36 15 73 12 52 66 -1 11

Appalachian Alabama 190 1 0 1 7 -1 10 26 10 48 8 35 38 0 7

Georgia 835 1 0 2 20 2 64 95 56 205 41 143 161 4 43

Appalachian Georgia 246 1 0 0 9 7 19 31 13 61 8 37 46 0 15

Kentucky 301 0 0 1 10 8 28 34 17 68 13 51 57 1 14

Appalachian Kentucky 60 0 0 0 5 4 3 9 3 11 2 13 10 0 1

Maryland 508 0 0 1 21 -12 26 51 38 132 29 97 95 3 25

Appalachian Maryland 17 0 0 0 1 -1 1 3 1 3 0 5 3 0 2

Mississippi 205 -2 1 1 11 -1 12 29 10 39 11 40 35 1 18

Appalachian Mississippi 42 0 0 0 2 3 2 7 2 7 1 8 7 0 2

New York 851 2 0 -1 22 -68 26 80 36 233 83 202 268 -7 -25

Appalachian New York 13 0 0 0 3 -11 1 2 1 7 -1 7 8 0 -3

North Carolina 841 -4 1 1 37 -23 40 98 71 227 44 129 171 9 41

Appalachian North Carolina 122 -1 0 0 6 -7 5 14 8 26 8 30 27 1 4

Ohio 670 -1 1 -1 40 -13 51 78 36 182 27 142 119 -1 10

Appalachian Ohio 85 1 0 0 9 0 8 11 5 22 2 9 19 -1 0

Pennsylvania 800 5 2 1 40 -43 58 71 55 209 67 176 155 -1 6

Appalachian Pennsylvania 336 2 2 0 21 -17 30 26 29 81 28 75 57 1 1

South Carolina 360 -2 0 0 14 5 16 33 26 83 14 56 97 0 16

Appalachian South Carolina 86 0 0 0 3 2 5 8 7 23 5 15 18 0 1

Tennessee 545 1 0 0 24 3 39 63 34 140 22 99 103 -1 17

Appalachian Tennessee 201 1 0 0 9 4 15 23 10 55 5 35 40 -1 6

Virginia 803 -1 1 1 26 -9 34 88 63 212 32 124 156 8 68

Appalachian Virginia 47 0 0 0 3 -2 3 7 4 11 1 5 10 0 5

West Virginia 92 1 -1 -1 11 -7 4 15 -1 16 3 27 18 1 7
Appalachian Regional Commission 

Regional Planning & Research Division Appalachian Region Industry Report-2014 

202-884-7700 www.arc.gov/research Source: Woods & Poole Economics, historical data 2000-2010, 2020 forecast 

Forecast 

Percent Change in 

Employment by Industry, 

2010-2020

Total Employment

Farming, Forestry

Coal, Gas, Other 

Mining

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade, 

Transportation

Retail Trade

Finance, 

Insurance, Real 

Estate

Professional, 

Technical Services

Education, 

Information 

Services

Health, Social 

Services

Food, Lodging, 

Entertainment

Federal 

Government, 

Military

State & Local 

Government

United States 13.4% 3.2% 12.1% 6.1% 12.0% -1.7% 12.7% 14.9% 10.2% 22.9% 16.8% 20.8% 18.3% 0.6% 4.1%

Appalachian Region 12.2% 1.9% 0.9% 2.4% 12.1% -2.0% 13.3% 12.5% 9.5% 25.7% 16.7% 20.8% 16.2% 0.6% 3.2%

Northern Appalachia 9.1% 3.6% 2.9% 0.6% 13.3% -7.3% 13.0% 7.1% 9.0% 21.9% 14.6% 14.4% 12.2% 0.4% -0.3%

North Central Appalachia 11.6% 1.9% -0.3% -7.5% 20.6% -8.2% 11.6% 14.0% 4.9% 22.2% 13.6% 22.0% 16.1% 1.1% 4.8%

Central Appalachia 12.0% 1.1% -3.0% 4.6% 19.9% 10.2% 8.6% 13.8% 9.6% 27.5% 13.0% 19.1% 16.6% 0.7% 3.0%

South Central Appalachia 13.8% 0.1% 7.9% -2.9% 9.1% -2.8% 14.2% 14.6% 10.6% 29.9% 18.7% 24.2% 18.8% 1.9% 4.7%

Southern Appalachia 14.9% 1.9% 4.4% 9.5% 8.8% 2.6% 14.2% 16.8% 10.4% 27.3% 20.6% 30.0% 19.0% -0.1% 5.7%

Alabama 11.6% 2.4% 4.6% 11.6% 5.8% 0.1% 9.7% 13.1% 7.3% 23.7% 18.2% 23.2% 17.4% -1.2% 3.3%

Appalachian Alabama 11.9% 2.1% 3.3% 14.1% 7.3% -0.8% 11.0% 14.8% 7.7% 22.9% 18.9% 24.4% 16.2% -0.5% 3.7%

Georgia 15.8% 0.8% 4.5% 7.7% 7.1% 0.4% 15.2% 17.9% 11.6% 25.7% 18.6% 29.9% 20.0% 1.8% 7.4%

Appalachian Georgia 19.3% 3.4% 6.8% 8.9% 9.4% 4.6% 18.9% 20.7% 12.2% 33.9% 22.1% 36.8% 24.1% -0.5% 11.1%

Kentucky 12.9% -0.1% 1.2% 8.2% 8.1% 3.7% 15.5% 13.9% 9.6% 26.8% 18.4% 21.0% 18.0% 0.7% 5.1%

Appalachian Kentucky 12.1% 0.7% -2.2% 6.9% 17.9% 10.4% 9.1% 14.8% 9.8% 25.4% 12.9% 22.2% 16.3% 0.4% 2.0%

Maryland 15.1% 1.6% 10.3% 9.2% 10.2% -9.5% 14.1% 15.3% 11.5% 23.7% 19.6% 24.7% 20.0% 1.2% 7.1%

Appalachian Maryland 12.4% -0.4% -4.5% 2.1% 10.3% -11.3% 13.3% 13.5% 9.2% 24.0% -1.0% 24.0% 15.5% 4.0% 9.6%

Mississippi 13.7% -2.8% 9.3% 13.8% 12.8% -1.0% 13.3% 17.8% 10.2% 26.1% 27.1% 27.9% 16.2% 1.0% 8.1%

Appalachian Mississippi 14.5% 0.5% 5.5% 10.3% 14.8% 7.6% 8.9% 21.1% 11.0% 26.5% 23.6% 29.0% 20.0% 1.8% 5.1%

New York 7.8% 2.5% 0.3% -2.1% 4.7% -14.0% 3.8% 7.7% 2.7% 15.2% 11.7% 13.2% 17.2% -3.6% -1.9%

Appalachian New York 2.4% 1.2% 1.5% 2.0% 12.4% -18.8% 4.7% 2.8% 1.7% 13.6% -4.7% 9.3% 11.2% -4.2% -3.1%

North Carolina 16.2% -4.1% 12.5% 5.3% 12.3% -5.2% 12.4% 18.5% 15.7% 32.2% 22.9% 24.5% 22.8% 4.1% 6.3%

Appalachian North Carolina 14.1% -2.8% 7.7% -4.1% 10.9% -8.0% 10.5% 15.1% 11.7% 27.1% 27.5% 26.6% 19.7% 8.9% 3.5%

Ohio 10.4% -1.5% 4.3% -5.7% 13.6% -2.0% 11.2% 11.7% 6.3% 20.9% 11.3% 17.1% 13.2% -0.7% 1.4%

Appalachian Ohio 9.5% 2.6% 2.9% -5.0% 17.4% -0.4% 14.8% 9.6% 7.2% 27.7% 10.8% 7.9% 14.5% -4.4% 0.1%

Pennsylvania 11.2% 5.2% 3.7% 2.5% 11.2% -7.4% 11.6% 9.3% 8.6% 22.3% 17.5% 17.7% 15.7% -0.7% 0.9%

Appalachian Pennsylvania 10.7% 4.5% 4.1% 2.4% 12.7% -6.1% 14.2% 7.3% 11.5% 22.6% 20.1% 16.9% 12.7% 1.1% 0.4%

South Carolina 14.7% -4.6% 11.5% 3.5% 11.0% 2.5% 12.3% 12.2% 12.1% 26.7% 19.4% 28.7% 21.1% 0.1% 5.1%

Appalachian South Carolina 13.5% -0.1% 9.7% -14.9% 8.5% 2.8% 12.4% 11.2% 13.4% 24.9% 20.5% 33.4% 16.1% 1.5% 1.5%

Tennessee 15.4% 0.9% 5.5% 4.1% 12.2% 0.9% 13.5% 16.5% 11.5% 30.7% 17.7% 26.2% 18.9% -0.7% 4.6%

Appalachian Tennessee 13.8% 2.1% 8.5% 1.2% 9.5% 2.5% 14.8% 13.7% 8.7% 31.4% 12.1% 22.7% 17.8% -1.7% 3.9%

Virginia 16.8% -1.0% 6.0% 5.5% 9.5% -3.8% 13.6% 18.4% 15.5% 24.9% 17.2% 28.7% 23.1% 2.5% 12.7%

Appalachian Virginia 13.1% -0.1% 1.8% -4.3% 14.2% -4.5% 16.7% 15.5% 18.0% 31.2% 14.0% 14.3% 20.7% 2.2% 8.9%

West Virginia 10.1% 2.3% -3.6% -10.1% 22.7% -12.7% 7.6% 14.2% -2.1% 18.3% 12.0% 22.7% 13.0% 3.0% 5.2%