Gov. Patrick Morrisey described economic focus as the state brings one calendar year to a close and prepares to start a new one.
“We’re making strides to do the things that are going to allow West Virginia to really soar from a business perspective, and that means things that businesses care about, things that people care about a lot,” Morrisey said from behind a podium with a sign that said “West Virginia’s Comeback.”
The governor’s holiday week press conference emphasized economic development, workforce participation and infrastructure improvements.
“We’ve put so much time and energy into economic development. That’s been our number one priority, economic development, economic development, economic development,” he said.
“We know that the best way to have a strong economy and improve the standard of living is to clear out the pathway to remove all those obstacles that hold us back. That means having a competitive tax package, it means ensuring that we’re cutting red tape very aggressively, and that we’re investing in our people — and that’s certainly what we’re doing.”
West Virginia’s most recent unemployment rate — which reflects people actively searching for work — was 4.0%, which amounted to 28th in the country, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Those numbers, reflecting a count from September, were up a few notches from spring and early summer when the rate was 3.7 percent.
West Virginia’s labor force participation rate was 54.4% as of September, with the state consistently among the lowest in the nation.
That figure shows the percentage of the working-age population (age 16 and older) that is either employed or actively looking for work. For the United States, the rate recently hovered around 62.5 percent.
West Virginia’s gross state product has been climbing a bit. That figure measures the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a state’s borders over a specific period.
This year’s legislative session took criticism that there was not enough focus on economic policies.
The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, which represents businesses across the state, came out early to push the importance of an economic growth agenda for the next legislative session, saying the last one didn’t meet the mark.
House Speaker Roger Hanshaw and members of the Republican supermajority earlier this month previewed a range of economically focused bills that could be considered for the regular session that begins Jan. 14.
State Senator Vince Deeds, speaking on “Radio Roundtable” on WJLS-AM in the Beckley area, agreed that the coming session should have an economic focus. Deeds cited the need for collaboration between the Senate and House to address economic needs effectively.
“We’re all working together to try to build up this area, because we have the people that want to work and that’s important,” Deeds said.
He added, “The reason it is such a high priority is because if we keep our economic engine running well, then we can afford other programs.”