In this wide-ranging episode, Dr. T. Ramon Stuart sits down with Dr. John Deskins, Director of the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research, and Sam Houston, a high school student serving as WVU Tech’s President for the Day. The conversation dives into the current state of the economy in southern West Virginia, focusing on both the barriers to growth and the strategies needed to unlock the region’s full potential.

Dr. Deskins outlines some sobering statistics: labour force participation is under 50 percent in counties like Raleigh, Fayette, Summers, and Nicholas. The root causes are complex, including health challenges, drug addiction, and limited educational outcomes, but the solution lies in investing in human capital. Both Deskins and Dr. Stuart stress the need to break the cycle of economic decline that has left many communities underpopulated and underresourced.

The episode also underscores the transformative role of higher education. WVU Tech alone generates an estimated $35 million in economic impact annually, providing both jobs and hope. Sam Houston speaks from a student’s perspective, emphasizing the need for purpose and vision among his generation, and highlighting that a strong community anchored by educational institutions can help young people build careers without leaving the region.

Dr. Deskins closes with a call for collective responsibility, stating that real economic change takes everyone: educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and citizens alike.