Summary Points
• From 2001-2009, natural gas employment
in West Virginia increased by 34% (the
summation of the employment in all natural
gas NAICS sectors).
• Marcellus Shale development generated
$2.35 billion in business volume and
approximately $1.16 billion in total value
added in the West Virginia economy in 2009.
• In 2009, the economic activities associated
with the Marcellus Shale development
created approximately 7,600 jobs and
$297.9 million in employee compensation
in the state.
• Assorted state taxes associated with
Marcellus Shale development totaled $14.5
million (these taxes included sales, use,
personal income, corporate net income and
business franchise taxes in the state).
• Estimated impact of Marcellus Shale
development in 2009 in West Virginia is
deemed to be conservative. Estimates of
the economic benefits of royalty payments,
bonuses to landowners, exploration of
Marcellus Shale, pipeline and transportation
of the natural gas extracted from Marcellus
Shale, processing of the natural gas, and
severance taxes paid to the state were not
included in the economic impact estimates.
• Employment impact of Marcellus Shale
development for 2010 was estimated
between 7,600 and 8,500 additional jobs
depending upon the growth rate.
• By 2015, the number of additional jobs
created in that year is estimated to be
between 6,600 and 19,600.
• Future development of Marcellus Shale
in West Virginia is dependent on changes
to federal and state policies as well as
the economic impact of the natural gas industry and
the m ar cellus shale de velopment in west vir ginia
changes to tax and environmental policies
in other Marcellus Shale states.
• The main contributor in the increase in
total employment in the industry was
increased employment in the support
activities for the oil and gas operations
sector, which employs the most natural
gas employees at over 2,600 in 2009,
increased employment from 2001 by 102%.
The driving force behind this increased
employment was the development of
Marcellus Shale in the state.
• In 2009, the West Virginia oil and
natural gas industry directly employed
approximately 9,900 individuals and
paid over $550 million in wages. The
natural gas industry had a $12 billion
economic impact in business volume in
West Virginia, and $3.1 billion impact in
total value added. The industry generated
approximately 24,400 jobs and $1.1
billion in employee compensation.
• Marcellus Shale is located throughout
West Virginia, and is between 0 and 75
ft. thick. In parts of Barbour, Monongalia,
and Preston counties Marcellus Shale is
over 100 ft. thick.
• West Virginia lead the nation in Marcellus
Shale permits issued from 2002 to 2008.
• The over 2,800 Marcellus Shale permits
issued in West Virginia since 2002 has
lead to drilling in 45 of the 55 counties in
the state.
• The economic impact of the Marcellus
Shale development in West Virginia in
2009 was estimated using the IMPLANÒ
input-output model and 2009 data
collected from the industry.