Recent U.S. Census Bureau figures seem to further debunk our state’s temporary “Open for Business” motto. The Charleston Gazette reports this morning that only two of West Virginia’s largest cities – Morgantown & Martinsburg – have experienced significant population growth over the last seven years. Much of Martinsburg’s population growth can be attributed to the Eastern Panhandle’s growing number of Washington D.C. commuters – people who live in our state but drive out-of-state for their jobs. Nothing says closed for business like a large sector of the population willing to leave the state on a daily basis to work elsewhere.
West Virginia is also suffering through a “negative natural increase” in population. In other words, there have been more deaths than births in West Virginia over the past seven years. Surely, this figure is caused in some part by the fact that so many younger West Virginians have left the state for greener job markets. Chances are there are more native West Virginians living in Charlotte, NC than there are in many of our state’s smaller cities.
Politicians need to get smart when it comes to our state’s declining population. Snappy slogans and shifting city limits won’t actually solve the problems facing our state. It’s about time for meaningful reforms that would energize our state’s job market and attract younger natives back to their home state.
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