Forecast Annual Employment Growth, 2017-2022
Hancock
a full 10 percent of its adult population
sitting on the sidelines compared to the
nation. Thus, the right kind of investment
in human capital is imperative to make
our state—and our workforce—attrac-
tive to potential businesses.
Economic Outcomes and
Opportunities Vary Dramatically
Across Regions
The real potential for widespread eco-
question we have in our state right now
regarding economic Brooke
development.
nomic transformation associated with the
The natural gas boom
has created ben- natural gas boom lies in bringing down-
Ohio
efits for the Mountain State in terms of stream activity into the state. This refers
jobs, income and tax revenue, but thus to the numerous businesses that could
Marshall
Morgan Berkeley
far the additional jobs are somewhat
lim- locate in our state that rely on an afford-
Monongalia
able and reliable supply of natural
ited because gas is so Wetzel
capital intensive.
Jefferson gas. If
Preston
Mineral
Hampshire
Marion
The industry uses relatively few workers West Virginia is able to attract this activ-
Tyler
in relation to the size of its output, Taylor
com- ity, it has the potential to create thousands
Harrison
Pleasants
Doddridge
pared to other industries.
of jobs Grant
in the coming
one or two decades.
Tucker
Hardy
Barbour
Ritchie
Wood
While it is important to be aware of
Forecast Annual Employment Growth, 2017-2022
Lewis
statewide statistics, the fact of the matter
Forecast Annual Employment Growth,
Wirt
Gilmer
Upshur
Randolph
2017-2022
is that West Virginia exhibits tremendous
Calhoun
Pendleton
variation across its regions in terms of
Jackson
Braxton
Roane
Mason
economic strengths and weaknesses. For
Webster
instance, it is likely that what we need in
Clay
Pocahontas
Putnam
our southwestern region is quite different
Nicholas
Kanawha
from what we need in the Eastern Pan- Cabell
handle. We must understand and embrace
2017-22 Average Annual
Greenbrier
Fayette
these differences and tailor economic de- Wayne Lincoln
Employment Growth
Boone
velopment strategies to each region’s op-
< 0.4%
portunities and challenges.
Raleigh
Logan
Hancock
Brooke
Ohio
Marshall
Morgan
Berkeley
Monongalia
Wetzel
Marion
Tyler
Pleasants
Preston
Harrison
Doddridge
Hampshire
Jefferson
Grant
Hardy
Lewis
Wirt
Gilmer
Upshur
Calhoun
Jackson
Randolph
Pendleton
Braxton
Roane
Mason
Tucker
Barbour
Ritchie
Wood
Mineral
Taylor
Webster
Focus Must Be Put on the
Manufacturing Activity Associated
with the Natural Gas Boom
How much manufacturing activity as-
sociated with the natural gas boom comes
to West Virginia? This is the single biggest
40
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
Clay
Putnam
Mingo
Cabell
Summers
Wyoming
Wayne
Lincoln
Greenbrier
Fayette
Boone
Mingo
Logan
Mercer
McDowell
Summers
Mercer
Monroe
0.6% - < 0.9%
2017-22 Average Annual
Employment Growth
≥ 0.9%
< 0.4%
Raleigh
Wyoming
McDowell
0.4% - < 0.6%
Pocahontas
Nicholas
Kanawha
0.4% - < 0.6%
Monroe
0.6% - < 0.9%
≥ 0.9%
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and WVU BBER County Econometric Model