(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Earlier this spring, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce waved some red flags regarding the state’s unemployment picture. According to WorkForce West Virginia’s numbers, total employment declined by 6,700 jobs from March 2025 to March 2026. Employment in the state sat at just 744,000 jobs.

Among the noteworthy downturns was the mining industry, which lost 400 jobs during that year; manufacturing, which lost 300; and leisure and hospitality, which lost a disturbing 1,600 jobs.

“With each new jobs report, we are seeing a clearer picture of where West Virginia stands and where we risk falling behind,” said Steve Roberts, president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “Economic growth doesn’t happen by accident. It is the result of policy decisions that either encourage investment and job creation or make it more difficult for businesses to grow and hire.”

Disingenuous celebratory announcements are a distraction and an insult at this point. Eight jobs here and 12 or 15 there just isn’t going to cut it.

Meanwhile, WalletHub’s “2026’s Best and Worst State Economies” shows the Mountain State is practically forfeiting its Economic Backyard Brawl. After nearly a year-and-a-half since its kickoff, West Virginia is dead last — 51st in the ranking. (Washington, D.C., is included in the report.)

Politicians can pretend all they want that they are working toward improving, expanding and diversifying West Virginia’s economy, but the proof is in the data. For this year’s report, we were 48th in change in gross domestic product, 42nd for exports per capita, 39th for startup activity, 47th for percentage of jobs in high-tech industries, 50th for annual median household income, 43rd for change in nonfarm payrolls, 30th for unemployment rate, 51st for economic activity, 30th for economic health, 51st for innovation potential, 49th for independent inventor patents per 1,000 working-age population and 20th for government surplus/deficit per capita.

Scott Thorne, Ph.D., an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, told WalletHub, “As with countries, the most effective ways for states and local officials to help local economies is to provide up-to-date, maintained infrastructure; a fair and unbiased legal system; good educational facilities and a transparent political system. Low taxes, while helpful, are not necessary.” Further, he said of tax breaks and other incentives offered to companies, “Generally such incentives result in a net negative impact and race to the bottom as states compete to outdo each other in giving away tax dollars to organizations.”

The effect is amplified, it seems, when a state’s elected officials are also competing to outdo each other in terms of absurd and backward-looking socio-cultural efforts, rather than focus on what West Virginians really need from them.

Enough is enough. Not a thing has improved economically since the folks who rode in on claiming they were tired of being “dead last” started making their speeches. It’s time for them to set their personal agendas aside and get to work.