West Virginia has too many people without jobs and jobs without people. Last week, WV Forward partnered with U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, the City of Charleston and 30 organizations statewide to host one of the largest jobs and resource fairs ever held in West Virginia. More than 300 employers and 3,000 job seekers matched skills and job opportunities.
In addition to matching West Virginia workers and jobs, the event showcased that our state is a great place to live, work and play. More than 60 people from New Jersey to Pennsylvania came to Charleston to explore opportunities at the fair, many with specialized skills in healthcare, engineering, manufacturing and construction. They are interested in relocating to West Virginia thanks to the low-cost of living and to be a part of a tight-knit community. The visitors reported that they were very pleased with their time in the capital city and with the job fair.
This event is an example of the Forward Blueprint in action, connecting jobs to people and people to jobs. Matching available West Virginia jobs to individuals’ skillsets not only increases workforce participation, but also job growth and overall economic prosperity to move WV Forward. |