Workforce West Virginia released its annual lists of largest employers earlier this month, and, as always, the lists provide a lot of food for thought.
Workforce West Virginia released its annual lists of largest employers earlier this month, and, as always, the lists provide a lot of food for thought.
The list ranking the 100 largest private employers gets the most attention. Walmart has been No. 1 every year since 1998, when the giant retailer shoved Weirton Steel Corp. out of the top spot. According to Walmart's website, the company has 12,420 employees in West Virginia.
Weirton Steel, now a part of ArcelorMittal, is No. 61 this year.
One can't help but notice that 18 hospital organizations are in the top 100.
West Virginia United Health System ranks No. 2. According to its website, this organization has more than 7,000 employees and includes West Virginia University Hospitals, City Hospital in Martinsburg, Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson and United Hospital Center in Clarksburg.
Charleston Area Medical Center ranks No. 3. According to its 2009 Community Benefit Report, CAMC has more than 6,500 employees and includes General Hospital, Memorial Hospital and Women and Children's Hospital.
Other large hospital organizations: St. Mary's Hospital in Huntington, Cabell Huntington Hospital and Wheeling Hospital.
The list also is peppered with organizations that provide human services. Examples:
Workforce West Virginia released its annual lists of largest employers earlier this month, and, as always, the lists provide a lot of food for thought.
The list ranking the 100 largest private employers gets the most attention. Walmart has been No. 1 every year since 1998, when the giant retailer shoved Weirton Steel Corp. out of the top spot. According to Walmart's website, the company has 12,420 employees in West Virginia.
Weirton Steel, now a part of ArcelorMittal, is No. 61 this year.
One can't help but notice that 18 hospital organizations are in the top 100.
West Virginia United Health System ranks No. 2. According to its website, this organization has more than 7,000 employees and includes West Virginia University Hospitals, City Hospital in Martinsburg, Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson and United Hospital Center in Clarksburg.
Charleston Area Medical Center ranks No. 3. According to its 2009 Community Benefit Report, CAMC has more than 6,500 employees and includes General Hospital, Memorial Hospital and Women and Children's Hospital.
Other large hospital organizations: St. Mary's Hospital in Huntington, Cabell Huntington Hospital and Wheeling Hospital.
The list also is peppered with organizations that provide human services. Examples:
ResCare, which provides job training and educational support to individuals with developmental or other disabilities, ranks No. 9.The Mentor Network, which operates in West Virginia under the name REM West Virginia, ranks No. 14.There are six coal companies on this year's list. Consol, Spartan Mining Co., Hobet Mining and Elk Run Coal Co. climbed in the ranking; Eastern Associated Coal Corp. and Alex Energy (Intrepid Mining Co.) fell.
Big gainers this year: Aker Construction Inc., which rose from No. 97 last year to No. 27; Wheeling Island Gaming, which jumped from No. 83 to No. 50; Homer Laughlin China Co., which rose from No. 90 to No. 59; and Cabela's, which rose from No. 64 to No. 42.
Big decliners: GC Services dropped from No. 30 to No. 74 and Greenbrier Hotel Corp., which was sold by CSX -- and therefore separated from the railroad's employment total in this year's ranking -- dropped from No. 8 to No. 30.
Workforce West Virginia also compiles lists of the 10 largest public and private employers in each county. The 2010 tally shows boards of education are the biggest employers in 34 of the state's 55 counties.
The lists are posted on the Internet at www.workforcewv.org/lmi/OTHRDATA.cfm and can be had by contacting the Research, Information and Analysis Division at 304-558-2660.
Reach George Hohmann at busin...@dailymail.com or 304-348-4836.
Get Connected