Hospital supports 1,530 jobs and $113.5M in wages in Mercer County, report shows

PRINCETON, W.Va. (WVVA) - WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital is a major economic and social engine for the region, according to key findings from the hospital’s community impact report compiled by the West Virginia Hospital Association.

Last year, the hospital recorded 247,300 patient encounters across inpatient care, primary care and specialty clinics. Those services supported 1,530 jobs, representing about 8.1% of jobs in Mercer County. Annual hospital expenditures totaled $243.6 million, roughly 10.9% of the county’s gross domestic product. Wages and benefits paid by the hospital amounted to $113.5 million, equal to about 9.5% of Mercer County payrolls. The report also highlights $1.8 million in community programs and education delivered in 2024.

Hospital leaders said the data show how hospitals contribute beyond medical care, supporting local employment, training future clinicians, and investing in prevention and education programs that otherwise might not exist.

The report also underscored the hospital’s commitment to growing services locally and developing the next generation of healthcare professionals who live and work in the region. Many hospital staff are local residents or have settled in the area after years of service, the report noted, strengthening ties between the hospital and the community it serves.

The numbers illustrate how a single regional hospital can drive local economic activity, from jobs and payroll to purchases that ripple through the local economy. Community programs funded by the hospital help improve population health, reduce downstream costs, and support workforce readiness in health careers.

Hospital officials said they will continue expanding services, training opportunities and outreach.