One of my favorite social scientists, Lane Kenworthy, has a remarkable essay in the latest Foreign Affairs on America's growing opportunity and income inequality gap. Most notably, Kenworthy finds that addressing these twin problems requires different strategies. For example, while investing in early childhood development may help create more economic opportunity over the long-run it…
Income and Work
A recent article from Governing Magazine shows that West Virginia had the largest increase in income inequality from 2010 to 2011. While West Virginia has traditionally had lower levels of income inequality compared to most states, income inequality in the Mountain State is now nearly the same as the national average. The graph below uses…
Job loss accelerates in September - West Virginia’s disappointing trend of losing jobs continued in September as the state shed 3,200 jobs, marking the eighth straight month of job loss. So far in 2012, only January has seen a monthly increase in jobs. Total nonfarm employment stood at 747,500 in September, 12,800 jobs below its pre-recession…
Job Losses Continue to Pile Up in August - August marked the seventh straight month of job losses for West Virginia, as total nonfarm employment fell by 2,300 jobs. August was also the third straight month with job losses over 2,000, which hasn’t happened since 2009. Total nonfarm employment is now 750,700, which is 9,600 jobs…
The projected decline of Central Appalchian coal production is one of the biggest challenges facing the state in the near future. While there are many reasons for the decline, some are irreversible, as much of the easy to reach coal has been mined out. This has prompted a great deal of concern in the state, chiefly regarding the…
While the state slowly recovers from the Great Recession, struggles remain. There is only one job opening for every four people looking for work, the state has the lowest workforce participation rate in the nation, and West Virginia workers earn, on average, one dollar less an hour than the national average. Raising the minimum wage,…
Work sharing gives businesses an alternative to lay-offs during times of economic uncertainty. This voluntary program allows them to use unemployment benefits to retain their workers. Already adopted in 24 states and the District of Columbia, work sharing could be particularly helpful to West Virginia's mining and construction industries which have both faced employment ups…
2012’s Slide Continues Into June - Total nonfarm employment fell for the fifth straight month, as West Virginia lost 1,200 jobs in June. June marked the third straight month with job losses over 1,000, the first time that has happened since early 2009. Nonfarm employment has been below its pre-recession level since April. Unemployment in the…
In times of economic uncertainty, instead of sending trained staff to the unemployment line, companies in 24 states and the District of Columbia can use work sharing. This voluntary program allows employers to use unemployment benefits to retain their workers and avert lay-offs. Work sharing could be particularly helpful to West Virginia's mining and construction…
As Sean and I have both touched on, one of the central factors causing the decline in Central Appalachia coal production is the exhaustion of thicker, more easy to mine, coal seams. One way to gauge this trend is by looking at coal productivity. Coal productivity can be measured in two ways. The Energy Information…