The State Journal, June 15 2004

Wishful Thinking Aside, Employment Situation Still Trending Down

By:  Steve Roberts

Several statements were made by a trial lawyer (Omar J. Aboulhosn) in the June 11 edition of The State Journal that could lead to a lack of understanding and clarity regarding jobs in West Virginia . One statement in particular was Mr. Aboulhosn’s claim that Justice Warren McGraw and his comrades on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals have created 12,000 jobs in West Virginia recently.

Well, Mr. Aboulhosn apparently is using January-April 2004 data for this fact, which shows an uptick in jobs in our state.  However, these increases, once seasonally adjusted, usually don’t hold up.  I hope this four-month upward trend will continue.  However, tradition has shown that West Virginia experiences a seasonal uptick in employment during spring, but only to be erased as the year progresses.

The more reliable trend that we should focus on is the ongoing employment trend in West Virginia . The most recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that West Virginia actually lost 2,100 jobs from the period April 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004 .  The press release for this can be found at – http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm.

This news is corroborated by the West Virginia Bureau of Employment Program’s recent numbers, which show that our state has lost 2,400 jobs over the past 12 months (see press release dated June 14, 2004 ). On an ongoing basis, West Virginia ’s employment base still seems to be declining.  

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce takes no joy in focusing on these numbers. But, West Virginia cannot hide from the reasons or outcomes any longer.

Adding to the bad news is the fact that West Virginia ’s employment picture is out of step with nearly every other state.  Employment actually has risen in 44 other states and the District of Columbia , according to a May 21, 2004 press release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Again, West Virginia is not one of these states.

Mr. Aboulhosn also criticized the West Virginia Chamber’s ongoing Restore Balance education campaign and called the effort “loony.”  The “loony” label should go to those people who want to continue to whistle a happy tune and ignore the true facts about West Virginia ’s out of step ways.  Yes, what we are presenting is unpleasant and unsettling to some.  But, denying how much our state has lost in terms of jobs, wages, tax revenues and opportunities is not going to lead to dealing with West Virginia ’s issues in a substantive manner.

Mr. Aboulhosn can continue spouting off his statements, but the people of West Virginia know the difference between “loony tunes” and the facts.  That is why they are calling out for changing our anti-jobs laws and policies and restoring our state to the mainstream.

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, of which is predominately (95 percent) made up of small business men and women from across our state, has the solutions that are needed to turn around this situation.  We will continue to work to garner public support for these needed policy changes and to help educate voters about “restoring balance.”

Steve Roberts
President
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
sroberts@wvchamber.com
(304) 342-1115