News Releases

September 1, 2012 by WVCBP
State of Working West Virginia 2012

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,…

Read More
August 8, 2012 by WVCBP
West Virginia Requires a Balanced Approach to the Federal Deficit

If significant new revenue isn't included, efforts to reduce federal deficits would almost certainly damage West Virginia's economic recovery and future economic growth by drastically cutting federal investments in schools, roads and bridges, safe communities, and disaster relief. Read

Read More
July 18, 2012 by WVCBP
Implementing Work Sharing Could Help Both Business and Workers During Economic Downturns

In times of economic uncertainty, employers are sometimes forced to lay-off their workers to cut costs and stay profitable. Lay-offs hurt employees and can cause businesses to lose experienced workers. Instead, companies can use work sharing, a voluntary program that allows employers to use unemployment benefits to retain their workers and avert lay-offs. Read

Read More
June 20, 2012 by WVCBP
Two Approaches to Extending Bush Tax Cuts Would Impact West Virginians Differently

Middle-income and low-income West Virginians would pay somewhat more in taxes under the House's approach to extending the Bush tax cuts than they would under President Obama's approach, while high-income West Virginians would pay far less under the House approach, according to a new analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and Citizens…

Read More
June 15, 2012 by WVCBP
Report Breaks New Ground on Immigrant Businesses

More than one in six small business owners in the United States is an immigrant, according to a new report from the Fiscal Policy Institute's Immigration Research Initiative. Immigrants -- people born in another country -- make up 18 percent of all small business owners in the United States. By contrast, immigrants are 13 percent…

Read More
February 22, 2012 by WVCBP
Growing Prison Population is Costly to Both Communities and Taxpayers

A new report highlights the impact of prison overcrowding and provides recommendations. Even though its crime rate is stable and its population is barely growing, West Virginia's prison population continues to expand beyond the capacity of existing prisons and jails. Caught up in this crisis is the state's African American community whose members are at…

Read More