regions in West Virginia will lower the
ranks of those already in the labor force,
but these improved labor market sig-
nals will incentivize some discouraged
workers to rejoin the workforce. These
factors will put offsetting upward and
downward pressure on the jobless rate,
which will ultimately remain in the upper
4 percent range for the remainder of the
outlook period.
Positive Outlook for
Population Growth
should see benefits from more stable north central regions will continue to
labor market conditions. This should at receive a net gain of migrants. Overall,
least slow the tide in net outflows from total population for the state as a whole
migration for some counties. At the same will contract at a rate of 0.1 percent per
time, the state’s primary economic growth year, but population totals are expected
centers in the Eastern Panhandle and to remain steady between 2020-2023.
Figure 2.21: West Virginia Population Growth by Age Group
West Virginia Population Growth by Age Group
2.5%
2007-2017
2.0%
2018-2023
1.5%
Due to what is expected to be an im-
provement in its relative economic per-
formance, the fast rates of population
decline seen in recent years will likely
come to an end during the outlook period.
Deaths will continue to exceed births in
most counties in West Virginia, and the
margin will actually widen in some parts
of the state over the next five years. At the
same time, counties that struggled with
steep losses in employment and income
1.0%
0.5%
0.0%
-0.5%
-1.0%
-1.5%
0 to 17 yrs
18 to 44 yrs
45 to 64 yrs
65 and older
Total
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and WVU BBER Econometric Model
Editor’s Note: Every year, the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research hosts the Economic
Outlook Conference series, during which experts report on the state’s economy and what West Virginia can expect in the coming
years. To view the most recent report, visit https://business.wvu.edu.
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