CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — The future of the West Virginia economy was the topic of discussion at the University of Charleston on Wednesday, drawing business owners, community members and many more.
“Right now we have a high job openings rate, and we don’t have enough people to fill those jobs,” said West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research Director John Deskins.
West Virginia ranks near the bottom nationally in labor force participation, which experts like Deskins said is one of the large challenges facing the states economic future.
“We’re dead last among the states in terms of the sheer adult population that’s either working or looking for work,” Deskins said. “We have people out of the workforce because of poor education, because of poor health outcomes, because of drug abuse.
“That’s one of our biggest challenges and we have to work to find ways to get more West Virginians into the workforce.”
Deskins said while labor force participation and a dwindling population are issues, there are ways to curb the negative effects and grow the economy.
“Economic development strategies should focus on trying to make West Virginia more attractive to potential businesses and to potential residents to try to encourage people to move here and grow our state,” Deskins said.
Some programs in the state are already working to encourage people to move West Virginia. It was announced last week Charleston would become the next Ascend WV program location, with the program paying out of state remote workers $12,000 to move to certain parts of the state.
University of Charleston President Marty Roth said holding events like this is important to not only educate students but the entire Charleston community about the outlook on the states economic future.
“Events like this will bring everybody from CEOs to managers to faculty to students all together for a great learning opportunity and something that we’re going to enjoy,” Roth said.