The report highlights persistent challenges in statewide labor force participation, which continues to lag behind national averages. While targeted economic development initiatives have brought new manufacturing and aerospace investments to select corridors, overall employment growth rankings place West Virginia in the bottom tier nationally for net job creation over the past year.

Key economic indicators tracked in the digest show that the state maintains one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the country, a factor policy experts cite as a primary barrier to filling open positions in health care, education and advanced manufacturing.

Meanwhile, average weekly wages have seen modest nominal gains, though inflation-adjusted purchasing power remains relatively flat across several legacy sectors. Professional services and tourism showed resilient growth, while energy extraction and traditional manufacturing experienced mixed output depending on global commodity demands and regulatory environments.

Underpinning the state’s economic challenges are demographic realities as West Virginia continues to grapple with an aging population and outmigration among college-aged residents, contributing to a declining overall population.

The Chamber’s digest emphasizes that reversing these demographic trends requires a dual approach of retaining homegrown talent through expanded career and technical education pathways and attracting remote workers and out-of-state professionals through quality-of-place marketing.

Tax policy remains a central pillar of the Chamber’s recommendations. Following historic personal income tax reductions enacted by the West Virginia Legislature in recent years, business leaders and policymakers are monitoring the long-term fiscal impacts.

Proponents argue that lower personal income tax rates make the state more attractive to prospective residents and entrepreneurs, while the digest notes that state lawmakers must balance those cuts with the need to fund essential infrastructure, education and public health systems required to sustain a modern workforce.

Business inventory taxes and severance taxes on natural resources also remain focal points of ongoing debate among economic stakeholders.

The 2026 Campaign for Jobs Digest concludes that while West Virginia possesses abundant natural resources, strategic geographic positioning and a lower cost of living than many coastal metropolitan areas, closing the economic gap with neighboring states will demand workforce development and fiscal management.

“Data matters because it gives us a clear picture of where we are and helps us identify where we need to go,” Steve Roberts, president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said. “The Campaign for Jobs Digest is an important tool for business leaders, policymakers and community advocates who are committed to making West Virginia more competitive and creating greater opportunities for the people who call our state home.”

Business and legislative leaders are expected to use the findings from the digest during the upcoming legislative session to shape policies aimed at boosting labor force participation and diversifying the state’s economic base.